It makes a variety of changes to the police disciplinary process, hiring and training. Following that incident, six officers were placed on leave as Mosby sought criminal charges against them after Gray’s death resulted in a series of violent riots in the city. What we know is that Freddie Gray is dead and that he died while in the custody of Baltimore police.
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Earlier in the day, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said blamed the police investigation of bias and reluctance. But after his acquittal, there was virtually no chance that the other officers would receive a different verdict, Moskos said. And no one has been held accountable.
Several activists are questioning members of a Baltimore City Council spending panel for signing off on $26 million in police expenditures.
They say the money should be spent on improving police and community relations to de-escalate tensions. Many critics of Mosby have said the charges were rushed after Gray’s death, but Schatzow disputed that.
While Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has not yet addressed the news and her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump, has called on Mosby to “prosecute herself”, Green Party nominee Dr. Jill Stein expressed solidarity with those pursuing justice for Gray.
Anthony Batts, a police consultant who was Baltimore Police commissioner from 2012 to 2015, said the case should never have gone past a civil proceeding.
On Wednesday, the state’s attorney, Marilyn J. Mosby fiercely defended the prosecutions. Williams then ruled three times in a row that although the officers may have exercised poor judgment, the state presented no evidence to prove they meant to hurt Gray. Recent events also show that protests remain the only path justice for Black people can take.
“Our communities are arguably safer than ever”, he said. But the message to every police officer is: You must protect and safeguard your prisoner or face possible prosecution. Three officers had been acquitted by a judge.
Last May, Mosby said in announcing the charges that her decision to prosecute was based on both a police department investigation and a separate, independent investigation conducted by her office.
Tessa Hill-Aston said Wednesday that she thinks the state’s attorney’s office did a “remarkable job”. As a mother, the decision not to proceed on these trials, on the remaining trials, is agonising. For those that believe I’m anti-police, it simply is not the case.
Allegations were made about the police roughing up Gray when they arrested him or driving the van in such a way as to injure him. We are very proud of the prosecutors who handled the case and did their best to their ability.
Gray’s stepfather, Richard Shipley, said Wednesday that he supported Mosby.
Miller is the fifth officer to stand trial. If police fear that even a good-faith mistake in arresting a suspect could result in criminal charges, they will pull back. When a crowd gathered around the police wagon where officers were attempting to place an “uncooperative” Gray, Rice “directed other officers to move the wagon approximately one block south in order to complete paperwork and otherwise effectuate Mr. Gray’s arrest”.
When Mosby first took on Gray’s case, some praised how swiftly she acted.
Attorneys for the officers planned a news conference for later Wednesday.
Three officers were acquitted in the case: Edward Nero, a bike officer involved in the initial police encounter with Gray; Caesar Goodson, who drove the van that transported Gray; and Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in connection with Gray’s death.
Judge drops last charges against officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. Officer William Porter’s trial ended with a hung jury, and he was going to be retried.
Gray’s death prompted protests and became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Some eyewitness accounts allege that officers were unnecessarily forceful in the arrest, while the Baltimore Police Department disputes those claims. Police said it was an illegal switchblade; prosecutors said in announcing charges against the officers that it was legal and made his arrest improper.
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But after failing to convict in the first three trials, Mosby threw in the towel.
