Thread: BREAKING NEWS: COPS CHARGED Freddie Gray death ruled a homicide

• BREAKING NEWS: COPS CHARGED
  Freddie Gray death ruled a homicide, charges filed against 6 officers
  
  BALTIMORE STATE'S ATTORNEY announces medical examiner has ruled death of Freddie Gray to be a homicide, and finds 'probable cause' to file manslaughter, murder, assault, negligence and misconduct charges against police.

• VIDEO: Confrontation as Baltimore mayor tries to duck Fox News
• MEDIA BUZZ: When did ‘thugs’ become a radioactive word?
• Riots rattle Baltimore homeowners, merchants key to urban revitalization
• Maryland gov can't say whether 'stand down' order given in Baltimore
• TODD STARNES: If it loots like a thug, it’s a thug | Officer in Gray arrest once hospitalized over mental health

Baltimore prosecutor charges police with murder, manslaughter in death of Freddie Gray

Published May 01, 2015 FoxNews.com



NOW PLAYINGCan hitting your head against a bolt break your spine?
DEVELOPING: Prosecutors charged six Baltimore police officers Friday with crimes ranging from murder to assault in the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old black man whose death last month of injuries apparently suffered in police custody touched off peaceful protests that degenerated into a night of rioting, looting and chaos Monday.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, speaking at a Friday news conference, blasted the six police involved in Gray's arrest on April 12, during which he suffered a broken neck that proved fatal a week later. Mosby said the police had no basis for arresting Gray, who police said avoided eye contact and was carrying a switchblade. One police officer, identified as Caesar Goodson, 45, was charged with second-degree murder, while others were charged with crimes including manslaughter and assault.

"No one is above the law," declared Mosby, who said she comes from three generations of law enforcement and has been on the job for four months. Her husband is Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby, who has spoken out about the riots and anger in the city's African-American community.

Gray suffered a broken neck, apparently while riding in the back of the Baltimore police van. Mosby said Friday the medical examiner had ruled the death a homicide. Police sources have said his injuries may have been caused by his head hitting a bolt inside the vehicle, according to local reports citing sources familiar with a police report now in the hands of state prosecutors.

The charges leveled against the police include:
- Goodson was charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree negligent assault, as well as other charges including failure to render aid and misconduct in office.

More on this...

• Has social media exasperated the problems in Baltimore?
  
  

- Police Officer William Porter was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Police Lt. Brian Rice was charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault.
- Police Officer Alicia White was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Police officers Edward Nero and Garrett Miller were charged with multiple counts of assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office.

The Baltimore police officers union issued a statement before Mosby's announcement, saying the six officers are not responsible for Gray's death.

"As tragic as this situation is, none of the officers involved are responsible for the death of Mr. Gray," Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 President Gene Ryan said in a statement. "To the contrary, at all times, each of the officers diligently balanced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray and discharge their duties to protect the public."
Gray died a week later, on April 19. Until Friday's news conference few details about the investigation had been publicly released and most of what was known came from local reports citing unnamed sources. An explosive report Wednesday night in the Washington Post cited a fellow passenger's account in a police affidavit that said Gray was thrashing around in an effort to injure himself, although that witness went on the city's CBS affiliate to say his words were taken out of context and that he now fears for his life after his statement was used to bolster the police version of events.

“When I was in the back of that van it did not stop or nothing," Danta Allen, who had been arrested for allegedly stealing a cigarette, told WJZ. "All it did was go straight to the station, but I heard a little banging, like he was banging his head,” Allen said. ” I didn’t even know he was in the van until we got to the station.”

Gray's lawyer has said his spine was nearly severed, but results of an autopsy, like the police report, remained under wraps. That has fueled frustration and suspicion in the community, where peaceful protests devolved into rioting and looting, culminating in a night of chaos on Monday.

On Thursday, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts disclosed that the police van made a previously undisclosed stop, one of three stops made while transporting Gray to a hospital. The mystery stop was captured by a privately-owned security camera, and could be crucial to the police investigation into Gray's death.

Although Gray was reportedly shackled to the bed of the van by leg irons, police sources told ABC affiliate WJLA that he was standing, without a seat belt on. Just over a week prior to Gray's arrest - for running from police who tried to stop him, the Baltimore Police Department issued a new policy making it obligatory to buckle in all inmates being transported in police vans.

Batts said his department’s report was delivered a day ahead of time to the State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and the commissioner said any questions about it should go to her.

Mosby decline to speak publicly Thursday as she issued a statement asking for "for the public to remain patient and peaceful and to trust the process of the justice system."

Last week, Batts said the additional passenger who was picked up along the way had told investigators the driver did not speed, make sudden stops or "drive erratically" during the trip, and that Gray was "was still moving around, that he was kicking and making noises" up until the van arrived at the police station.

The Gray family's lawyers sought to dispel the idea that the police report would be made public at this point.

"This family wants justice, and they want justice that comes at the right time and not too soon," attorney Hassan Murphy said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, protesters over Gray’s death continue to spread across the nation. Aside from gatherings in Baltimore, demonstrations spread into Philadelphia and New York Thursday.

Philly.com reports that Philadelphia police made three or four arrests after hundreds of protesters marched through the city to show support for Gray.

More demonstrations are planned through the weekend.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/01...-freddie-gray/

http://www.alipac.us/f19/national-gu...rgency-319092/

Let the railroading begin. JMO

State’s Atty rules Freddie Gray’s death a homicide; all 6 cops charged

May 1, 2015 by Carmine Sabia 1 Comment

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced “probable cause” to file charges against six officers in the death of Freddie Gray.

The charges range from second degree murder to manslaughter and assault.

“We have probable cause to file criminal charges,” she said in a speech Friday that sounded more like an Al Sharpton rally than an official government announcement.

“The knife was not a switchblade and it is lawful.” she said adding that officers “failed to establish probable cause for an arrest.”

She said that her office’s investigation coupled with the medical examiner’s report ruling Gray’s death a homicide led her to the decision.

“To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf — this is your moment,” Mosby declared.

With a mayor who declared “We will get justice for Freddie Gray,” and a husband who participated in the protests, the move by Mosby came as no surprise.

Mosby’s smirk at the end of the press conference begs the question will she serve as prosecutor or persecutor?

The official list of charges reads as follows:

OFFICER CAESAR R. GOODSON Jr.
— Second-degree depraved heart murder, 30 years
— Involuntary manslaughter, 10 years
— Second-degree assault, 10 years
— Gross negligent manslaughter by vehicle, 10 years
— Criminal negligent manslaughter, 3 years
— Misconduct in office
OFFICER WILLIAM G. PORTER
— Involuntary manslaughter, 10 years
— Second-degree assault, 10 years
— Misconduct in office
LT. BRIAN W. RICE
— Involuntary manslaughter, 10 years
— 2 counts of second-degree assault, 10 years each
— 2 counts of misconduct in office
— False imprisonment
OFFICER EDWARD M. NERO
— 2 counts of second-degree assault, 10 years
— 2 counts of misconduct in office
— False imprisonment
OFFICER GARRETT E. MILLER
— 2 counts of second-degree assault, 10 years each
— 2 counts of misconduct in office
— False imprisonment
SGT. ALICIA D. WHITE
— Involuntary manslaughter, 10 years
— Second-degree assault, 10 years
— Misconduct in office

Read more: http://www.bizpacreview.com/2015/05/...#ixzz3YuCrgdzq

Right call. Even if a bolt on the van was the instrument that caused death, they are responsible for that death by arresting without cause for arrest. Now let the system work it will.

A Look at the 6 Officers Charged in Freddie Gray's Death

State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says the officers repeatedly failed to get Gray medical treatment after his arrest.

Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore state's attorney, speaks during a media availability, Friday, May 1, 2015 in Baltimore.

Associated Press
May 1, 2015 | 2:37 p.m. EDT

Six officers are charged in Freddie Gray's death from injuries he suffered while in police custody. State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says the officers repeatedly failed to get Gray medical treatment after his arrest. The police officers union has said they are not responsible for Gray's death.

Here is a look at each of the six officers.
___
OFFICER CAESAR GOODSON
Goodson was the driver of the van that transported Freddie Gray, and he faces the most serious charges. Mosby said Friday that Goodson repeatedly failed — a total of five times — to seatbelt Gray in the transport vehicle. Overall, Goodson faces six charges, including "second-degree depraved heart murder," which carries a potential 30-year sentence.
Goodson, 45, has been on the force since 1999. Friends describe him as a family man who likes to watch football and works part time as an auto mechanic at a shop specializing in Saabs. With help, he restored a green Saab convertible, a car one friend says he only takes out a few times a year. He wasn't scheduled to work on the day Gray was arrested but had been asked to work overtime, friends said.
A friend who worked with him as a mechanic said Goodson had hoped to retire in several years.
___
LT. BRIAN RICE
Rice was on bike patrol when he made eye contact with Freddie Gray on a Baltimore street April 12. Gray ran, and Rice pursued him. Bike patrol officers Garrett Miller and Edward Nero joined the pursuit.
Rice, 41, is the most senior officer to be charged. He joined the police force in 1997 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2011, police said. Records obtained by The Associated Press from a sheriff's department and court show he was hospitalized in April 2012 following concerns about his mental health. Worries about his stability led deputies to confiscate both his official and personal guns, and his commanding officer was called. It was not immediately clear whether or when all of Rice's guns were returned.
___
OFFICER GARRETT MILLER AND OFFICER EDWARD NERO
Gray surrendered to Miller, 26, and Nero, 29. Miller and Nero handcuffed Gray and put him on the ground. Gray told the officers that he couldn't breathe and requested an inhaler, Mosby said. The two officers, both of whom joined the police force in 2012, sat Gray up and found a folded knife clipped to the inside of his pants pocket, a knife that is lawful under Maryland law, Mosby said. Previously, police have said they found a switchblade.
Mosby said Gray didn't commit any crime, and the officers "illegally arrested Mr. Gray."
The officers put the knife on the sidewalk and then put Gray back down on his stomach, when he started to flail legs and scream, Mosby said.
Nero held Gray down until Goodson arrived driving a police transport van. Miller, Nero and Rice then put Gray inside.
While Gray was being transported, Miller, Nero and Rice took him out of the wagon and put flex handcuffs and leg shackles on him. After that stop, they put Gray back into the van on his stomach without a seatbelt.
___
OFFICER WILLIAM PORTER
At one point during the van ride, Goodson requested help checking on Gray. Porter, 25, who joined the force in 2012, responded. Both he and Goodson checked on Gray. Porter helped Gray from the floor to a bench in the van, but neither Goodson nor Porter requested medical attention or put a seatbelt on Gray.
___
SGT. ALICIA WHITE
White is the second-highest officer charged in the Gray case. She met the van at its stop to pick up the second person. White, 30, was responsible for investigating two citizen complaints about Gray's arrest. She joined the police in 2010 and was recently made a sergeant in January 2015, police said.
During the stop, White, Goodson and Porter saw Gray unresponsive on the floor. White "spoke to the back of Gray's head" but he did not respond, Mosby said. The group did not call for medical assistance.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/...ath?int=a6f909

BREAKING NEWS

http://www.alipac.us/f19/baltimore-p...harges-319295/

Baltimore Grand Jury Indicts Six Officers in Freddie Gray's Death

5/21/2015

A grand jury in Baltimore has indicted six officers in the death of Freddie Gray, the city's top prosecutor said Thursday.

In a hasty early-evening news conference, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby reeled off the charges handed down by the grand jury against the officers: Caesar Goodson Jr., William Porter, Brian Rice, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller and Alicia White.

The grand jury's charges differed slightly from those filed by Mosby on May 1, when she announced the results of her office's independent investigation of Gray's death. Some of the original charges, including false imprisonment, were dropped, and new charges, including reckless endangerment, were added.

Mosby did not explain why that had happened, other than to say that "additional information was discovered, and, as is often the case during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based on the evidence."

Gray sustained neck injuries after following an April 19 foot chase with police which ended with his being charged with possession of a switchblade and placed into a police van. He sustained neck injuries while riding in the van, and died a week later.

The death triggered days of unrest in Baltimore, including a night of rioting and looting.

The grand jury indicted Goodson, the van's driver, with second degree depraved heart murder; involuntary manslaughter; second degree assault; manslaughter by vehicle, gross negligence; manslaughter by vehicle, criminal negligence; misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Porter, who rode in the van with Gray and other officers, was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Rice, a lieutenant who initiated a chase with Gray, was charged by the grand jury with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment.

Nero, one of two officer who helped Rice in the chase and arrest of Gray, was charged with second degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Miller, another of the two officers who backed up Rice, was charged with second degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

White, a sergeant who looked in on Gray during one of the van's stops, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/bal...-death-n362846

3/13/16

Man who ran with Freddie Gray pleads guilty to murder conspiracy in unrelated case