Missouri trooper charged in Ellingson death waives arraignment

The Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper charged in the death of a man who drowned while in Highway Patrol custody waived his arraignment Thursday.

Anthony Piercy has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of Brandon Ellingson, who drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks in May 2014.

Piercy is the trooper who arrested Ellingson for driving while intoxicated. He appeared in the Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles for a formal arraignment Thursday morning.

A special prosecutor brought the charges against Piercy in December. He was originally not charged for Ellingson’s death.

Following Ellingson’s death, a house committee met to discuss improvements to the Highway Patrol’s water division.

A jury trial will be set, but that date is not yet known.