Mosby said prosecuting officers is “fraught with systemic and inherent complications”.
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It’s not getting any easier.
Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped all remaining charges against the three Baltimore police officers still awaiting trial in the death of Freddie Gray, whose neck was broken as he was transported unrestrained in the back of a police van in April 2015.
“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.
The reviews of the three acquitted officers have already begun. She did not let up Wednesday. “Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man”.
He took umbrage at Mosby saying police “bias” obstructed her case, and said his tenure showed patterns of creating transparency, such as when he gave the family of Anthony Anderson a copy of his autopsy and appointed an independent commission to look into his 2012 death.
Still, Mosby struck a defiant tone.
In a fiery defense of her prosecution, Mosby blamed police for an investigation that failed to hold anyone accountable for the death of Gray, a young black man. Gray’s neck was snapped in the back of a police van, and he died a week after his injury. The truth is, police officers are rarely convicted for deaths of civilians, as made clear by the Gray, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice cases.
State attorney Marilyn Mosby said charges were tossed for the three officers because of the “dismal likelihood of conviction”.
Officer William Porter stood trial first and had chosen a jury trial.
Three other officers charged in the case – Officers Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson Jr. and Lt. Brian Rice – were acquitted by a judge of all charges at bench trials earlier this year.
As a result of the prosecution, she says there were police reforms, including a policy that all officers have body-worn cameras. “My office has never wavered in our commitment to seeking justice on his behalf”.
She declined to answer questions about the case, saying civil lawsuits had been filed against her.
Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, who took over for former Commissioner Anthony Batts in October, said 30 “ethical, experienced, and talented” detectives worked on the case and a local newspaper reporter was given access to the investigation.
Sgt. Alicia White also had been ordered to stand trial before the charges were dropped. She reiterated that sentiment during Wednesday’s remarks. The victim, judge, top prosecutor and mayor are all African-American.
“I can tell you that actions of these officers will not and should not in any way damage the important working relationships between police and prosecutors as we continue to fight together to reduce crime in Baltimore”, she said previous year.
Gray died seven days after sustaining injuries in police custody.
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Gray’s mysterious death turned the largely black city near the nation’s capital into a tinderbox. Mostly peaceful demonstrations erupted in pockets of looting and rioting in the hours after Gray’s funeral. A citywide curfew was put into effect, and National Guard troops joined Baltimore police in an attempt to maintain order. “The state’s attorney simply could not accept the evidence that was presented”, he said at a news conference, flanked by the accused officers and their lawyers.
