Six police officers to be criminally charged in Freddie Gray's death
Six police officers to be criminally charged in Freddie Gray's death
"I heard your call for no justice, no peace," the state's attorney said.
Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore state's attorney, speaks during a media availability, Friday. | AP Photo
Marilyn Mosby, the state's attorney in Baltimore, announced Friday that the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray has been ruled a homicide, and criminal charges will be filed against the six police officers involved in the circumstances leading to his April 19 death.
The officers failed to establish probable cause for Gray's arrest on April 12, and further acted in an unlawful manner while transporting Gray in a police van, the investigation found.
"The manner of death has been ruled a homicide" stemming from a fatal neck injury that occurred while Gray was unrestrained by a seatbelt while in police custody in the police vehicle transporting him to the station, Mosby said at a news conference.
Officer Caesar Goodson was charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, Mosby said. That charge carries 30 years in prison.
"Despite Mr. Gray's obvious and recognized need for medical assistance," Mosby said, Goodson responded to other police calls without responding to Gray's injuries. On at least five separate occasions, Mosby said, Goodson failed to restrain Gray.
Other officers were separately charged on varying counts of manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, office misconduct, assault, both intentional and negligent, false imprisonment, and failure to render aid.
The charges against the other five officers are as follows:
Officer William G. Porter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault in the second degree, which both carry 10-year sentences, in addition to one charge office misconduct.
Lieutenant Brian W. Rice faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of assault in the second degree, two counts of office misconduct and one count of false imprisonment.
Officer Edward M. Nero faces two second-degree assault charges, along with two misconduct charges and one false-imprisonment charge.
Officer Garrett E. Miller was charged with two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of office misconduct, along with false imprisonment.
Sgt. Alicia D. White was charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault in the second degree and office misconduct.
The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police responded to the charges, stating that "at all times, each of the officers diligently balanced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray and discharge their duties to protect the public."
The union also asked Mosby to appoint a special independent prosecutor, stating Mosby's office has multiple conflicts of interest regarding Gray's case. Mosby has denied any conflict problems.
During her press conference on Friday, Mosby said that Goodson, who was driving the vehicle transporting Gray, and accompanying officers failed to secure Gray with a seatbelt, in violation of a Baltimore Police Department general order.
"Despite stopping for the purpose of checking on Mr. Gray's condition, at no point did [Goodson] seek nor did he render any medical assistance for Mr. Gray," Mosby said. "Officer Goodson returned to his driver's seat and proceeded toward the central booking and intake facility with Mr. Gray still unsecured by a seatbelt, contrary to a BPD general order. Several blocks later, Officer Goodson called into dispatch that he needed to check on the status of his prisoner and requested additional units at Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue."
Officer William Porter then arrived on the scene near Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue, Mosby said.
At that time, Mosby stated, Gray "requested help and indicated that he could not breathe."
Upon arrival at the station, Gray was "no longer breathing at all," Mosby said, and a medic determined that he had gone into cardiac arrest and was "critically and severely injured."
Mosby said that the information used in the case cannot "ethically" be released publicly, strongly condemning any leaks of trial evidence coming from law enforcement.
She urged those with strong emotional reactions to Gray's death to channel their energy peacefully.
"I heard your call for no justice, no peace," Mosby said.
"I urge you to channel the energy peacefully as we prosecute this case," Mosby said, addressing unrest across the city in the last week. "Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of Freddie Gray."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/freddie-gray-death-homicide-baltimore-117551.html#ixzz3YuFAHbUt
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