Mayle

BELINGTON – An Elkins police officer was arrested in Barbour County Sunday, according to court documents.

Christian Michael Mayle, 25, is charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor.

Mayle has served as a police officer with the Elkins Police Department and the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office.

Monday afternoon, Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett issued the following statement:

“The Elkins Police Department is aware of the arrest of EPD Probationary Patrolman Christian Mayle over the weekend. Patrolman Mayle is currently on administrative leave pending investigation into this matter.

“The Elkins Police Department is proceeding in accordance with State Law and Civil Service Rules as it relates to Patrolman Mayle’s employment with The City of Elkins,” the statement reads. “We cannot comment further on this ongoing investigation.”

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Patrolman T.L. Cooper, of the Belington Police Department, at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning he responded to a domestic violence call in Belington. A woman at the residence said Mayle had “fled the scene in his personal vehicle.” Officers with the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police “began searching for him in the area.”

The woman said she and Mayle began arguing while they were out for the evening, and while driving her home, she said Mayle drove “like 104 mph” and told her several times he was “going to kill (her),” the complaint states. She also said Mayle took her cellphone from her hands and threw it into the vehicle’s windshield, causing it to crack.

At the residence, the woman said Mayle “grabbed her by the throat and slammed her up into the door,” according to the complaint. She said he then loaded a handgun and left the residence.

Cooper said he observed and photographed “multiple injuries” present on the woman’s body, “as well as many corroborating factors in the house and vehicle,” the complaint states.

Mayle and his vehicle were located “approximately one mile from the scene,” and “two loaded handguns” were recovered in the vehicle, according to the complaint. Mayle was placed under arrest at approximately 2:25 p.m. and was “transported directly to TVRJ (the Tygart Valley Regional Jail) for processing.”