6 police officers are charged in the death of Freddie Gray
Six police officers face charges ranging from second-degree murder to false imprisonment in the death of Freddie Gray, the Baltimore man who died after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody.
State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby of Baltimore announced the charges at a news conference on Friday, the Baltimore Sun reports. Mosby said police did not have probable cause to arrest Gray, and the knife found in his pocket was not an illegal switchblade. Gray is believed to have died from a “severe and critical neck injury” sustained while riding in the police van without seat belts, Mosby said.
The officer who drove the van, Caesar Goodson Jr., has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and two counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to the Sun. Officer William Porter, Lt. Brian Rice and Sgt. Alicia White were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Officer Edward Nero and Officer Garrett Miller were charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office, as were the other four officers. Miller is also charged with false imprisonment.
Mosby cited findings that the officers left Gray face-down in the police van, with his wrists and ankles bound. He was not secured in the van. Officers interacted with Gray at least five times while he was in the van and despite Gray’s repeated requests for medical help, none was provided, Mosby said. When the van reached the police station, Gray was in cardiac arrest and was not breathing, Mosby said.
The medical examiner had ruled Gray’s death was a homicide, Mosby said in the press conference.
After Mosby’s announcement, drivers in West Baltimore honked their horns while others yelled “justice.”
Other publications with coverage include the Washington Post and the New York Times.
At corner where #FreddieGray was arrested, Willie Rooks, 53, screaming, "Justice!" pic.twitter.com/zXYufvukpa
— Kevin Rector (@RectorSun) May 1, 2015
