Gallaway Mayor Jamie Mayo was taken into custody Monday after authorities say he failed a court-ordered drug screening, marking the second drug-related arrest for the small-town mayor in just a few months. Mayo, now in his second term leading the tiny Fayette County municipality of roughly 500 residents, has denied any wrongdoing as the latest case puts an outsized spotlight on the community.
Re-arrest and booking
According to Action News 5, Mayo was arrested in Fayette County and later transferred to the Tipton County jail for booking. The outlet reports he was taken into custody on Monday and returned to the county where his earlier case is already pending.
November traffic stop
Mayo’s legal problems first went public in November, when Tipton County deputies say they found about 0.25 grams of crack cocaine under the front passenger seat of a pickup truck that had been pulled over for dark window tint and broken tag lights. He was booked on multiple drug charges and later released after posting a $10,000 bond, according to WSMV.
Mayor's response and local notes
Mayo has continued to maintain his innocence, and his attorney told WREG that he does not plan to step down. Fayette County authorities also told WREG that a bench warrant was issued after the failed court-ordered drug screening and that the bond tied to that bench warrant was recalled.
What comes next
State and local officials say Mayo will return to Tipton County court to face the November charges, with the county handling the booking process as the case moves forward. Action News 5 reports that local leaders have not announced any change to his mayoral duties while the legal process continues.
Legal notes
The charges Mayo faces remain pending in Tipton County courts and will be decided there, and officials have not released additional records beyond the arrest reports and public statements already reported. Those following the case can expect future scheduling and filings to appear on the county court docket as the next steps in the process.
