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Freddie Carlos Gray, Jr.DateApril 12, 2015 ( 2015-04-12) (incident)April 19, 2015 ( 2015-04-19) (Gray's death)Location, U.S.TypeDeath while in police custodyCauseSpinal cord injuryFilmed byTwo witnesses to Gray's arrest, store video of police vanParticipantsFreddie C. Gray, six Baltimore police officersOutcomeDeath of Freddie Gray on April 19, 2015 ( 2015-04-19), protests, riotingBurialApril 27, 2015 ( 2015-04-27)Inquiries;Arrests1AccusedCaesar R. Goodson Jr., William G. Porter, Brian W. Rice, Edward M.
Nero, Garrett Miller, Alicia D. Goodson: Second degree. Others:, second-degree assault, manslaughter by vehicle, misconduct in office, false imprisonmentVerdictNero (Acquitted), Porter (Mistrial followed by all charges dropped), Goodson (Acquitted), Rice (Acquitted), Miller , White (Nolle prosequi)LitigationThe City of Baltimore at $6.4 million prior to the Gray's family filing to sueOn April 12, 2015, Freddie Carlos Gray, Jr., a 25-year-old black man, was by the for possessing what the police alleged was an illegal under Baltimore law.
While being transported in a, Gray fell into a and was taken to a. Gray died on April 19, 2015; his death was ascribed to injuries to his. On April 21, 2015, pending an investigation of the incident, six Baltimore police officers were suspended with pay.The circumstances of the injuries were initially unclear; eyewitness accounts suggested that the officers involved against Gray during the arrest—a claim denied by all officers involved. Commissioner reported that, contrary to department policy, the officers did not secure him inside the van while driving to the police station; this policy had been put into effect six days prior to Gray's arrest, following review of other transport-related injuries sustained during police custody in the city, and elsewhere in the country during the preceding years. The medical investigation found that Gray had sustained the injuries while in transport. The medical examiner's office concluded that Gray's death could not be ruled an accident, and was instead a homicide, because officers failed to follow safety procedures 'through acts of omission.'
On May 1, 2015, the Baltimore City State's Attorney, announced her office had filed charges against six police officers after the medical examiner's report ruled Gray's death a.The prosecutors stated that they had probable cause to file criminal charges against the six police officers who were believed to be involved in his death. The officer driving the van was charged with ' for his indifference to the considerable risk that Gray might be killed, and others were charged with crimes ranging from to illegal arrest. On May 21, a indicted the officers on most of the original charges filed by Mosby with the exception of the charges of illegal imprisonment and, and added charges of to all the officers involved.Gray's hospitalization and subsequent death resulted in an ongoing series of.
On April 25, 2015, a turned violent, resulting in 34 arrests and injuries to 15 police officers. After Gray's funeral on April 27, intensified with and of local businesses and a drug store, culminating with a declaration by Governor, deployment to Baltimore, and the establishment of a curfew. On May 3, the National Guard started withdrawing from Baltimore, and the night curfew on the city was lifted.In September 2015, it was decided that there would be separate trials for the accused.
The trial against Officer William Porter ended in mistrial. Officers Nero, Goodson, and Rice were acquitted. The remaining charges against the officers were dropped on July 27, 2016.On September 12, 2017, the U.S.
Department of Justice announced it would not bring federal charges against the six Baltimore police officers involved in the arrest and in-custody death of Freddie Gray. However, it was announced on October 5, 2017 that non-criminal, internal disciplinary trials for the officers will be prosecuted by a three person-panel chaired by someone from another Maryland police agency, likely Prince George's County, and that outside lawyer and former chair of the Baltimore City School Board Neil Duke will serve on the panel as well. Contents.Backgrounds Freddie Gray Freddie Carlos Gray, Jr. (August 16, 1989 – April 19, 2015) was the 25-year-old son of Gloria Darden. He had a twin sister, Fredericka Gray, as well as another sister, Carolina.
At the time of his death, Gray lived in the home owned by his sisters in the Gilmor Homes neighborhood. He stood 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) and weighed 145 pounds (66 kg). Gray had a criminal record, on drug charges and minor crimes and had spent time in jail. Police officers. Officer Caesar R.
Goodson Jr., age 45, is a 16-year veteran of the police force. Officer Garrett E.
Miller, age 26, joined the Baltimore Police Department in 2012. Officer Edward M. Nero, age 29, joined the Baltimore Police Department in 2012.
Officer William G. Porter, age 25, joined the police force in 2012. Lieutenant Brian W. Rice, age 41, is a 17-year-veteran of the force. Rice, who was promoted to lieutenant in 2011, is the highest-ranking officer charged in relation to Gray's death. Reported that, in 2012, Rice had allegedly threatened to kill himself and the husband of his former partner.
He had been hospitalized, reportedly, for a mental health evaluation and given an administrative suspension. The consequences of this threat included twice having his guns confiscated, and a restraining order on behalf of the husband of his former partner. According to a police report obtained by The Guardian, Rice had also misused his position to order the arrest of his ex-girlfriend's husband as part of a personal dispute that took place two weeks before the incident.
Sergeant Alicia D. White, age 30, joined the force in 2010 and was promoted to sergeant three months prior to Gray's death. She grew up in Baltimore.Arrest and death.
Timeline of Freddie Gray's arrestPolice encountered Freddie Gray on the morning of April 12, 2015, in the street near Baltimore's Gilmor Homes housing project, an area known to have high levels of home foreclosures, drug deals. Approximately three weeks prior to the incident, Mosby had requested 'enhanced' drug enforcement efforts at the corner of North and Mount. According to the charging documents submitted by the Baltimore police, at 8:39 a.m Lieutenant Brian W. Rice, Officer Edward Nero, and Officer Garrett E. Miller were patrolling on bicycles and made eye contact with Gray, who proceeded to flee on foot 'unprovoked upon noticing police presence'.
After a brief chase, Gray was apprehended and taken into custody 'without the use of force or incident', according to Officer Garrett Miller, who wrote he 'noticed a knife clipped to the inside of his Gray's front right pocket'. In the formal statement of charges, Officer Miller stated that Gray 'did unlawfully carry, possess, and sell a knife commonly known as a switch blade knife, with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade within the limits of Baltimore City.
The knife was recovered by this officer and found to be a spring assisted one hand operated knife.' According to the state's attorney for Baltimore City, the Gray was carrying was legal under Maryland law, while a police task force said the knife was a violation of the Baltimore code under which Gray was charged.Video recordings by two bystanders capturing Gray's arrest showed Gray, screaming, being dragged to a police van by officers, and then stepping up into the van. A bystander with connections to Gray stated that the officers were previously 'folding' Gray: one officer bent Gray's legs backwards, and another held Gray down by pressing a knee into his neck. Witnesses commented Gray 'couldn't walk', 'can't use his legs', and 'his leg look broke and you all dragging him like that'. Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts noted from the video that, 'Gray stood on one leg and climbed into the van on his own.' Reported that another witness saw Gray being beaten with police.According to the police timeline, Gray was placed in a transport van within 11 minutes of his arrest, and within 30 minutes, paramedics were summoned to take Gray to a hospital.
The van made four confirmed stops while Gray was detained. At 8:46 am, Gray was unloaded in order to be placed in because police said he was acting irate. Gray's shackling was recorded on a cellphone, which exhibited a motionless Gray surrounded by several officers as he was restrained. A later stop, recorded by a private security camera, shows the van stopped at a grocery store. At 8:59 am, a second prisoner was placed in the vehicle while officers checked on Gray's condition.
At 9:24 am, the transport van arrived at its final stop, the West District police station. After paramedics treated Gray for 21 minutes, he was taken to the at 9:45 a.m. In a coma.The media has suggested the possibility of a —a form of where a handcuffed prisoner is placed without a seatbelt in an erratically driven vehicle—as a contributing factor in Gray's injury. During Officer Goodson's trial, a prosecution witness testified that he 'could not say' if there had been a rough ride, and the judge ruled that the prosecution had not presented evidence to back that assumption.The department's seatbelt policy had been revised six days prior to Gray's arrest, in an attempt to protect detained individuals from serious injuries during transport. The policy was not followed in Gray's case.
According to attorney Michael Davey, who represents at least one of the officers under investigation, the new rules were criticized by some. He explained that in certain situations, like when a prisoner is combative, 'It is not always possible or safe for officers to enter the rear of those transport vans that are very small, and this one was very small.' In the following week, according to the Gray family attorney, Gray suffered from total at least once but was without ever regaining consciousness.
He remained in a coma, and underwent extensive surgery in an effort to save his life. According to his family, he lapsed into a coma with three fractured vertebrae, injuries to his, and his spine 80% severed at his neck.
Police confirmed that the spinal injury led to Gray's death. Gray died on April 19, 2015, a week after his arrest. Aftermath Investigation The suspended six officers with pay pending an investigation of Gray's death. The six officers involved in the arrest were identified as Lieutenant Brian Rice, Sergeant Alicia White, Officer William Porter, Officer Garrett Miller, Officer Edward Nero, and Officer Caesar Goodson. On April 24, 2015, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said, 'We know our police employees failed to get him medical attention in a timely manner multiple times.' Batts also acknowledged police did not follow procedure when they failed to buckle Gray in the van while he was being transported to the police station. The also opened an investigation into the case.On April 30, 2015, Kevin Moore, one of the witnesses who filmed Gray's arrest, was arrested at gunpoint following what Moore described as 'harassment and intimidation' by police.
Moore stated he had cooperated with police, and gave over his video of Gray's arrest for investigation. He claimed, despite aiding in the investigation, his photo was made public by police, who asked the public to identify him because he was 'wanted for questioning.'
Moore said the police obviously knew who he was when they posted his photo. Moore was released from custody the next day, but two other individuals who were arrested along with Moore remained in custody. The same day as Moore's arrest, medical examiners reported Gray sustained more injuries as a result of slamming into the inside of the transport van, 'apparently breaking his neck; a head injury he sustained matches a bolt in the back of the van'.On May 19, 2015, prosecutors asked a judge to place a on attorneys, police, and witnesses of the arrest, arguing that statements by the attorneys of some of the officers charged could prejudice the public.
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On June 8, 2015, it was announced that a judge had denied the state's attorney's request for a gag order on procedural grounds. Charges, indictments, and trials On May 1, 2015, after receiving a medical examiner's report ruling Gray's death a, state prosecutors said that they had probable cause to file criminal charges against the six officers involved.
Mosby said that the Baltimore police had acted illegally and that 'No crime had been committed' (by Freddie Gray). Mosby said that Gray 'suffered a critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside the BPD wagon'. Mosby said officers had 'failed to establish probable cause for Mr. Gray's arrest, as no crime had been committed', and charged officers with, because Gray was carrying a of legal size, and not the switchblade police claimed he had possessed at the time of his arrest.
All six officers were taken into custody and processed at Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.Three of the officers faced charges and one faced an additional count of. The murder charge carries a possible penalty of 30 years in prison; the manslaughter and offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All six officers were released from jail after posting bail the same day they were booked. Two officers were released on $250,000 bail and the four others' bail was $350,000.
Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. Top row left to right: Caesar R.
Goodson Jr., Garrett E. Miller and Edward M. Bottom row left to right: William G. Porter, Brian W. Rice and Alicia D.
Protesters at a police station near the site of Gray's arrest on April 25Public reaction to the death has drawn further parallels to the response to the 2014, as part of a larger string of controversial uses of force by police officers in the United States against African Americans. As of April 30, 2015, 22 demonstrations had been held nationwide in direct response to Gray's death or in solidarity with Baltimore. Additionally, the movement has protested Gray's death.On April 18, 2015, hundreds of people participated in a protest outside the Baltimore Police Department. Three days later, on April 21, 2015, according to, 'hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Baltimore', protesting Gray's death. The next day, Gene Ryan, the president of the local of the, expressed sympathy for the Gray family, but criticized the 'rhetoric of protests' and suggested that 'the images seen on television look and sound much like a lynch mob'. William Murphy, attorney for the Gray family, demanded an 'immediate apology and a retraction'.
Ryan defended his statement two days later, while admitting that the wording was poor. Of, reminded of a column he wrote several years ago, said that comparing protests to lynch mobs was too extreme because it inflames racial tensions by belittling the significance of the history of.On April 25, 2015, protests were organized in downtown Baltimore, and the protests turned violent as protesters threw rocks and set fires. Many protesters were angered students after being removed from their primary mode of transportation (city buses) and told to disperse from the city. Tension between the riot police and students grew as time passed, eventually leading to bottles and bricks thrown in protest of the large police presence of a so far peaceful protest of Gray's death At least 34 people were arrested, and 15 officers were injured. On April 27, rioting and looting began after the funeral of Gray, with two patrol cars destroyed and 15 officers reported injured. Protesters looted and burned down a location in downtown Baltimore.
In reaction to the unrest, the sent 82 troopers to protect the city. A baseball game against the scheduled for the evening was postponed due to the unrest.
The next game commenced as scheduled but, as a precautionary measure, the match was played. The next series against the was moved to. Maryland Governor declared a, and activated the. Hogan also activated 500 for duty in Baltimore and requested an additional 5,000 police officers from other locales.At a press conference, Baltimore's mayor announced there would be a citywide curfew from 10:00 p.m. School trips were canceled until mid-May, and Baltimore's city schools were closed on April 28. In addition, both the University of Maryland campus in downtown Baltimore and the Mondawmin Mall were closed early.Protests outside Baltimore also took place in other U.S.
In, 143 people at were arrested on April 29, 2015 for blocking traffic and refusing to relocate. On the same day, outside the in, nearly 500 protesters converged without an incident. In, eleven people were arrested as protesters were involved in physical altercations with officers.
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Other protests in response to Gray's death took place in cities including, and.On May 3, 2015, the National Guard began withdrawing from Baltimore, and the night curfew on the city was lifted. The demobilizing process lasted three days, during which time the state of emergency remained in effect. Spike in Baltimore homicides In May 2015, there were 43 homicides in Baltimore, making it the deadliest month in 40 years behind August 1972 (45 homicides) and December 1971 (44 homicides).
The number of homicides fell to 29 in June 2015 but in July 2015, 45 murders were recorded, tying with the record in 1972. Gene Ryan, president of Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, said this was partly due to an increase of confidence among criminals in Baltimore. Then-police commissioner, blamed drugs looted from pharmacies during the riots for the spike in crime.The 2015 homicide total as of July 31 was 189 compared to 119 by the end of July 2014. On August 3, in an attempt to solve the cases, Baltimore announced the Baltimore Federal Homicide Task Force. It is a partnership of the Baltimore police and five federal crime-fighting agencies.
The agencies will each embed two agents with the Baltimore police to help investigate. On July 8, 2015, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fired Anthony Batts, saying that his response to the death of Gray had become a distraction, while the police failed to prevent the spike in homicides.Baltimore ended the year with 344 homicides, the second-highest total behind 1993, when 353 murders occurred. It was also the first time since 1999 that the city recorded at least 300 homicides within a calendar year.Settlement On September 8, 2015, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that the city had reached a $6.4 million settlement with Gray's family. Rawlings-Blake said the settlement 'should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial', but had been negotiated to avoid 'costly and protracted litigation that would only make it more difficult for our city to heal'.
The city offered a settlement before they were sued. Charges against three remaining officers dropped On July 27, 2016, prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against the three remaining officers. In popular culture The death of Gray has been the subject of several songs. Recorded a song called 'Baltimore' for his 2015 album. The music video featured scenes from protests in response to Gray's death.
In May 2015, released 'Black Power', a music video on that shows rallies in the aftermath of Gray's death. Dedicated their 2016 song 'Change' to Gray. In 2016, released 'Beautiful Strangers', which addressed issues plaguing the world: gun violence, the death of Freddie Gray, and attacks in Orlando and Paris. In 2017, jazz pianist released a song called 'Blues For Freddie Gray' on his New Urban World Blues record. Later the same year, singer-songwriter penned 'Rough Ride', a song about Gray.In 2017, produced, a documentary about Gray's death and the subsequent protests.
Directed by, it charts the impact of the incident on the people of Baltimore. In May 2018, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks released a song entitled 'Bike Lane' on their album.
The song references the Freddie Gray case. See also.