By Associated Press - Tuesday, May 17, 2016

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - A mistrial has been declared in the trial of former Spokane Police Guild President John Gately.

Gately was accused of obstructing an investigation into a fellow officer accused of rape.

The Spokesman-Review reports the mistrial was declared Tuesday after each juror told the judge they couldn’t agree to a verdict. The jury was split eight to four in favor of acquittal.

Prosecutors charged Gately with obstruction last December after cellphone records showed he made two calls to fellow officer Gordon Ennis. Ennis was a sergeant whom a rookie officer had accused of rape.

Gately was originally charged with rendering criminal assistance, a felony, but Superior Court Judge John Cooney dropped those charges April 1.

Prosecutors must decide whether to retry the case.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, https://www.spokesman.com

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