Baltimore Police Department Lieutenant Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, is opting for a trial by judge, it was announced this morning. Rice picked this option, just as his colleagues, Officers Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson Jr.
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Rice was one of the officers who loaded Gray into the prisoner transport van where Gray died, and he is accused of failing to secure Gray with a seatbelt.
“Your office didn’t do what it was supposed to do”, Williams said. A grand jury indicted the officers on all of the original charges except false arrest and illegal imprisonment.
He has been charged with reckless endangerment, two counts of misconduct in office, two counts of second-degree assault and involuntary manslaughter. He is free on $350,000 bail. Prosecutors allege that Rice failed to secure Gray, 25, with a seat belt when he helped put him into the van while shackled.
Other charges relate to his role in Gray’s initial arrest.
Rice, a 17-year Baltimore Police veteran before Gray’s death, was hospitalized over mental health concerns and twice placed on administrative suspensions.
Rice’s trial will be heard and decided by judge Barry Williams.
Rice is the highest ranking officer charged in the case and two other police officers involved in the case were acquitted, while the proceeding against a third officer was declared a mistrial. Rice was the bike patrol officer who spotted Gray and two other officers in April of past year, and began chasing Gray, after Gray ran away.
Rice led the pursuit that resulted in Gray’s arrest.
Judge Williams rejected a motion on Tuesday to drop the charges. He was left unrestrained by a seat belt.
On Thursday, Williams denied defense motions to dismiss the indictment and to dismiss the counts of reckless endangerment and assault. Law Officer reported that a disbarment complaint was filed against her by a Georgetown law professor for a number of issues, but most notably because she reportedly improperly withheld evidence from the defense and that she did not have probable cause to believe there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the case against the six officers. Prosecutors have said in some cases police didn’t give them the documents in question.
The defense attorneys argue the script was written by assistant state’s attorney Janice Bledsoe.
Williams’ order means the documentation of Rice’s training will not be admissible as evidence in court.
Prosecutors could have an uphill battle trying Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice in the death of Freddie Gray.
Williams said prosecutors should have pushed city officials or sought intervention from the courts. Yet, even fewer are ever successfully prosecuted on those charges.
Officers’ training has been a key component of the State’s Attorney’s Office’s case against the officers, showing that they acted against the Police Department’s guidelines. Please see our terms of service for more information.
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Lawyers for Rice on Tuesday were asking that the charges be thrown out, citing what they view as flaws in the investigation.
