A child endangerment case against Zonya Ray, a Florida public official, has been dismissed after a police officer failed to appear in court, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
Ray, the Director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Opa-Locka, was accused of leaving a five-year-old boy unattended in a vehicle for more than eight hours. The incident allegedly occurred on March 11 when Ray was transporting minors to football practice and was unaware the boy had entered the car. The child was discovered around 6 a.m. the following day.
Ray, 58, was charged on June 2 with leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, a second-degree misdemeanor that carries a potential penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Court records indicate Ray confessed to police that she failed to inspect the vehicle before leaving for the night. She was not arrested or booked into jail, but was formally charged and agreed to appear in court without posting bond.
Her relationship with the child and whether the boy suffered any injuries remain unclear. Ray has held her position as director of parks and recreation since November 1988, according to her LinkedIn profile, and is still listed as such on the city's website.
Following Ray's charging, Opa-Locka City Manager Sha'mecca Lawson stated that the city takes matters involving the safety and welfare of minors seriously and was reviewing the circumstances. However, due to personnel and potential legal considerations, the city was limited in its public statements regarding the specific allegations or the juvenile involved.