The verdict handed down by a Baltimore judge found Edward Nero not guilty of second-degree assault, of reckless endangerment or of misconduct in office.
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Prosecutors charged Officer Edward Nero and five of his fellow officers with crimes after Mr. Gray died from a spine injury suffered in the van. Goodson, who drove the police can, faces a murder charge, while White faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, official misconduct and reckless endangerment. The department said in an earlier statement that despite the end of the criminal case, an internal investigation is ongoing.
Two other officers, including Nero, also faced charges directly related to failing to use the seat belt.
An “arrest without a justification” is how Baltimore Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe described Nero’s actions in her closing argument Thursday before a packed courtroom.
About a dozen protesters gathered outside the courthouse as the verdict was read. “We will protect our neighbourhoods, our businesses and the people of our city”, she said. Trials for Brian Rice, Garrett Miller, Alicia White and a retrial for Porter are scheduled for later this year. The police statement says Nero’s investigation won’t be completed until the criminal cases against all officers are complete. Because they had no probable cause to make an arrest, Gray never should have been taken into custody, they said. The assault charge was the most serious and carried a maximum term of 10 years.
According to testimony, Miller, who had jumped off his bicycle, caught up with Gray and placed him in handcuffs. Gray’s best friend, who was with him that morning, testified that Gray ran just before seeing the police and was not running from them. The trial of Officer William Porter ended in a hung jury, and Porter and the other officers face trials in coming months.
With last year’s protests in mind, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake asked for citizens to stay patient as the other trials continue.
The verdict, which drew mostly outrage on social media but praise from both police and an attorney for the Gray family, brings perhaps only a sliver of resolution to a city that seethed with unrest over the death last year of the 25-year-old prisoner.
“This court does not find that the defendant detained Gray without probable cause”, Williams said. There was no response from Mosby’s office since those involved in the case are under a court gag order.
Nero is now on administrative duty, a position he’ll hold until after the internal investigation is finished, Smith said. Congressman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said he would like to see seat belts in every police van moving forward.
A week later, Gray died at a hospital from his spinal injury.
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Officer Caesar Goodson, the van driver, is expected to stand for trial on June 6.
