Former Peachtree City police chief William McCollom was released on bond Thursday afternoon after turning himself in to authorities at the Fayette County Jail.
McCollom was indicted by a Fayette County grand jury Wednesday on a reckless conduct charge in connection with the New Year's Day shooting that left his former wife paralyzed.
Reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, was pursued in lieu of more serious criminal charges.
McCollom has told police that he went to bed at about 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve after consuming alcohol and sleeping medication. During the night, he said, he was awakened by barking dogs, got out of bed, took his service weapon from its holster on a dresser and checked the house.
“Finding nothing, he returned to bed and placed the gun under the sheets beside his body and Mrs. McCollom’s,” a statement previously released by District Attorney Scott Ballard’s office said. “He was awakened by the sound of a single gunshot.
“Although at the present time there appears to be no evidence to support felony charges due to the accidental nature of the shooting, we do believe that the evidence should be presented to a grand jury for the possible charge of reckless conduct since the chief took a loaded gun to bed with him after ingesting alcohol and sleep medication.”
McCollom resigned as police chief on March 11, less than a week after Ballard announced that he would present the case to a grand jury.
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