Rice is the highest-ranking Baltimore City police officer charged in connection with the death of Gray a year ago. Prosecutors dismissed an additional misconduct charge against the officer last Thursday when his trial began; Williams subsequently dropped a second-degree assault charge halfway through the arraignment.
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Six Baltimore police officers were charged after Freddie Gray’s death and arrest.
According to ABC News, Rice was identified as the officer who initiated the pursuit of Gray in April 2015 and was accused of recklessly endangering his life by failing to secure him with a seatbelt as he was transported in the rear of a police van.
Williams did not find enough evidence to convict Rice for a crime, saying that his conduct, including failing to put Gray’s seatbelt on him, was not “grossly negligent” and that he did not act “corruptly”, the Baltimore Sun reports.
“The prosecutor [tried to] prove Lt. Rice breeched a duty to safeguard Freddie Gray and a failure to use a seat belt ultimately caused a catastrophe … and that a reasonable officer “similarly situated” would have restrained Freddie Gray with a seat belt and that the end result is criminal conduct”.
Rice was charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office. Prosecutors have yet to secure a conviction.
Six officers, three black and three white, were charged in connection to Gray’s death, with charges ranging from false imprisonment to involuntary manslaughter.
Rice has been fourth officer charged in the death of Gray last April.
A gag order from the judge remains in effect, barring prosecutors and defense attorneys from speaking publicly about the case. Officers Edward Nero and Officer Cesar Goodson were acquitted in a bench trial by the same judge. The lone female officer on the case, Alicia White, will be tried in October.
Family members of a man who died from injuries suffered in police custody are marking the third anniversary of his death on the same day a judge acquitted a Baltimore police officer in the Freddie Gray case.
Williams said Monday that the definition of a crowd is not set in stone, however it is clear from witness accounts that “emotions and tensions ran high”, and “information did not flow efficiently”. “They’re 0-for-24 when you add up all the charges that the judge or jury considered through the court of four trials”. They said thatangry onlookers had surrounded the van and that officers rushed to leave the scene fearing for their safety. Chief deputy state attorney Michael Schatzow argued it was.
Warren Alperstein, a prominent lawyer in the city who has been observing the case, questioned whether the other cases should go to trial.
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Some eyewitness accounts claimed officers used excessive force against Freddie Gray before putting him in the van, but it was found he died from injuries related to the van ride.
