Prosecutors in Baltimore on Wednesday dropped all charges related to the arrest and death of Freddie Gray for three police officers. Ivan Bates, one of the attorneys representing the police officers charged in Gray’s death, called Mosby’s comments “outrageous”.
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“Without real substantive reforms to the criminal justice system, we could try this case a hundred times, and cases just like it, and still end up with the same result”.
A day before another trial was to begin, prosecutors dismissed charges against three remaining officers, blaming police for a biased investigation that failed to produce a single conviction in the death of Freddie Gray.
The lead prosecutor defended efforts to convict six officers on charges ranging from second degree murder to reckless endangerment, but said “reluctance and obvious bias” from individual police officers had undermined the case, making it probable that the three remaining trials would end in acquittal.
Mosby appeared in court at the lawyers’ table – a first – along with a member of her team; they told Williams, of Baltimore City Circuit Court, that the state would not prosecute that case or the two remaining ones – against Sergeant Alicia D. White and Porter, the first officer to be tried.
Not one of the police officers involved in Gray’s arrest and transporation to city jail will be punished in anyway, and all are free to return to the force. Gray died a week later at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
But in some cases, the plaintiffs will argue that the prosecutor stepped out of his or her role and acted as law enforcement, who have qualified immunity.
“We’ve all borne witness to an inherent bias that is a direct result of when police police themselves”, she said. Moreover, the judge was impressed by the argument that the commotion around the police van during Gray’s detention necessitated speed in placing him in the van. “The typical officer, they’re not being given any true incentive to turn in an officer that they know or they see is doing something improper”.
But through it all Ms Mosby did have unwavering support from Freddie Gray’s family, including his stepfather Richard Shipley.
Baltimore PD refused to say why they arrested Gray or why the otherwise healthy 27-year-old was in a coma for more than a week after the incident took place. The detectives assigned to the case conducted a very thorough investigation into the tragic death of Freddie Gray but the state’s attorney simply could not accept the evidence that was presented.
As cases of police brutality continue to be dismissed throughout the nation, a long list of celebrities have joined Banner in using their influence to speak up about cases like Freddie Gray’s that have left more questions than answers.
The hearing today was meant to start the trial of a fourth officer, Garrett Miller.
Six officers had originally been charged, three of whom were acquitted and one of whom was scheduled for a retrial after the judge declared a mistrial.
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She announced them with wildly inappropriate rhetoric: “To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America: I heard your call for ‘No justice, no peace.’ Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man”. However, as CNN reports, they still face administrative reviews and possible discipline.
