Police: Former detentions deputy accused of selling gun to gang member
By the bakersfield californian
A former Kern County Sheriff's detentions deputy was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of selling an assault rifle to a gang member, the Bakersfield Police Department said Monday.
Michael Gordon May is accused of selling the gun in August as part of a massive multi-agency operation targeting the East Side Crips and their associates, police reported. Authorities didn't discover May was a detentions deputy until they arrested him Nov. 3 as he left his home wearing his uniform.
While 17 federal indictments have been handed down against others arrested during the year-long investigation, May's crime did not meet federal prosecution guidelines, Bakersfield police reported. Police are submitting the case to the Kern County District Attorney's office to see if May can be prosecuted locally.
Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said May is no longer employed by the sheriff's department. He said sheriff's officials had no other comment about the case.
May, 28, is accused of selling an SKS rifle and ammunition to a gang member who was working undercover with authorities, police reported.
At a Friday news conference held at Bakersfield Police Department headquarters, the names of others arrested during the investigation were released. Many were charged with selling crack cocaine or being a felon in possession of a gun.
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