All three remaining Baltimore police officers facing charges in the high-profile case involving the death of Freddie Gray have been acquitted. In a hearing this morning that was supposed to commence the trial of Officer Garrett Miller, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow told Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams that the state had decided to drop all charges against Miller as well as the two remaining officers, William Porter and Alicia White, reports The Baltimore Sun.
Today’s decision was somewhat predictable considering that three other officers had already been absolved on similar or more severe charges. The acquittals had proceeded as follows: Officer Edward Nero in May, Officer Caesar Goodson in June, and Lieutenant Brian Rice earlier this month.
Officer William Porter, who was cleared of all charges today, had been the first officer to face trial. His December trial had resulted in a hung jury and mistrial, and his retrial had been scheduled for September. The trial of Officer Alicia White, also acquitted today, had been set for October.
“All of our clients are thrilled with what happened today, and we’ll be making a comment later to address the details of what happened,” said Catherine Flynn, attorney for Officer Miller, after today’s hearing.
On April 12, 2015, Baltimore police arrested Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man, for carrying what they claimed to be an illegal switchblade. He was transported into a police van, and upon his arrival at the police station, he was treated by paramedics and eventually taken to a nearby trauma center, where he was declared to be in a coma. He died a week later, and the main cause of death was said to be spinal chord-related injuries.
Two days after his death, all six officers who had been involved in his arrest and transport were suspended with pay. A medical examiner’s report concluded that Gray had sustained injuries whilst in police custody, deeming his death a homicide. While in the van, Gray had not been secured seatbelt, which went against a Baltimore Police department policy that had been instituted six days earlier.
On May 1, 2015, on behalf of the Baltimore City State, Attorney Marilyn Mosby brought forth charges against all six officers, ranging from second-degree “depraved heart” murder, manslaughter, and reckless endangerment.
Gray’s death has been the impetus for protests in Baltimore and nationwide. The Baltimore protests that ensued shortly after his funeral compelled the Governor of Maryland to declare a state of emergency and mandate a curfew throughout the city. Troops were withdrawn and the curfew was lifted three days later.
