BALTIMORE — State attorney Marilyn Mosby has charged six Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray. She filed multiple felonies charges against the officers who were responsible for “illegally” arresting Freddie Gray, who died from a broken spinal cord while in their custody.
The Maryland state medical examiner ruled Gray’s death a homicide and his premature passing set off nearly two weeks of contentious demonstrations in Baltimore and other major cities. This past week, the rallies spiraled into riots and looting, prompting the Maryland governor to declare a state of emergency and call in the National Guard to restore order.
Baltimore’s mayor had imposed a 10 p.m. curfew for the past week and came under intense scrutiny for her handling of the escalating episodes of demonstrators clashes with officers.
Mosby, who descends from a line of police officers in her immediate family, including her mother and father, grandfather and several aunts and uncles, is bringing serious charges of murder, manslaughter, assault and neglect against the Baltimore officers.
Here are the names of the officers and the list of charges against them:
Officer Caeser Goodson: 2nd degree depraved heart murder; involuntary manslaughter, 2nd degree negligent assault, manslaughter by vehicle by means of gross negligence; manslaughter by vehicle by means of criminal negligence; misconduct in office for failure to secure a prisoner; failure to render aid.
Officer William Porter, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Lt. Brian Rice, 41, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Sgt. Alicia White, 30, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Officer Edward Nero, 29, was charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
Officer Garrett Miller, 26, was charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment.
Warrants have been issued for the six Baltimore police officer’s arrest. No word on their whereabouts.
The protests began when a cell phone video showed Gray limp and dragged by officers into the police van.
Mosby said an investigation found officers placed Gray in wrist and ankle restraints and left him stomach-down on the floor of a police van as they drove around West Baltimore. Despite his repeated requests for medical attention, they did not provide it and continued to drive without securing him in the van, she said.
Officers on at least five occasions placed Gray in the van or checked on him and failed to secure him, she said. By the time they reached the Western District police station, he was not breathing and was in cardiac arrest, she said.
Mosby said her office did a “comprehensive, thorough and independent” investigation that began April 13, the day after Gray was injured.
“My team worked around the clock, 12- and 14-hour days,” she said.