CLAYTON — Prosecutors have dismissed a case against aÌýMetro East jail guardÌýjust before his trial because witnesses stopped cooperating.
Walter Gary, of Velda City, was charged a year ago with two counts of first-degree child endangerment. Charges say he admitted to police that he stored a loaded gun in a box filled with other toys in the dining room of his Velda City home in the 2800 block of Maurer Avenue.
A 5-year-old child found the gun and shot himself in the hand, charging documents alleged. There were at least four other children younger than 17 in the home at the time.
Gary was set to stand a one-day bench trial on Thursday last week, according to court records.
But prosecutors dismissed the case prior to the start of the trial because "essential witnesses stopped cooperating," St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë County prosecuting attorney's office spokesman Chris King said.
Gary was a 37-year-old corrections officer with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department when the charges were filed. The department at the time said he was placed on unpaid leave and confirmed he had been employed with them for about a year.Ìý
The department did not immediately respond to a request Monday regarding his employment status.