BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss.—A Mississippi police chief killed himself soon after learning that authorities were investigating allegations he illegally sold city-owned firearms, including an assault rifle, a sheriff’s official said Friday.
Hancock County Chief Deputy Don Bass told The Associated Press that Bay St. Louis police chief Mike DeNardo illegally sold one city-owned assault rifle, and that authorities were looking into allegations that other city-owned weapons were sold as well.
Sheriff Ricky Adam said a “multipoint investigation” had been going on for four months and included payroll fraud, the Sun Herald reported. The police chief left three apology letters — to the sheriff, the mayor and one other unspecified person — for the payroll fraud, Adam said. Those were turned over to the FBI.
These are the latest developments in a case that has shocked many in this small, tourist-friendly beach community.
