Freddie Gray's family 'satisfied' with charges against Baltimore police
'No one is above the law': Prosecutor lays 2nd-degree murder, manslaughter, assault charges
The Associated Press Posted: May 01, 2015 11:06 AM E, Last Updated: May 01, 2015 6:45 PM ET, Source
Freddie Gray's stepfather Richard Shipley said on Friday afternoon that the state attorney's charges against six Baltimore police officers involved in Gray's arrest are a first step towards justice for his stepson. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
The family of Freddie Gray is "satisfied" with the charges by the state's attorney against six Baltimore police officers who were involved in his arrest and fatal spine injury while in police custody.
Gray's stepfather, Richard Shipley, said during a press conference on Friday afternoon that the charges were the first step in getting justice for Gray.
The family is also calling for reform of police departments across the United States, said attorney Billy Murphy, Jr., including body cameras for police, better hiring, more oversight and a new culture.
"The blue wall of silence which makes policemen wrongfully conspire to conceal evil must come down," said Murphy, who spoke after Shipley.
A public safety department spokesman says all six officers charged in the death of Gray have turned themselves in and are inside the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.
We believe these officers will be vindicated, as they have done nothing wrong.<cite class="pullquote-source">- Michael Davey, attorney for Baltimore police union</cite>
Mosby declared that Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal, and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter. She detailed what happened to Gray during his arrest and the more than 30-minute ride in a police wagon, her outline either contradicting what police have said or shedding far more light on what happened inside the wagon.
Mosby announced the charges only hours after receiving the results of the internal police investigation and the autopsy report. As she spoke, the city was bracing for huge crowds in two more waves of protests Friday and Saturday.
"Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon," Mosby said.
Police union says officers are innocent
Onlookers cheered and expressed amazement over Mosby's announcement, which few expected so quickly. The city, which saw looting and businesses and cars burned on Monday, was still under a nighttime curfew and National Guard troops and police were out in full force. More than 200 people have been arrested and police said nearly 100 officers were injured.
Freddie Gray, 25, was arrested for allegedly possessing a switchblade knife on April 12. Gray died a week later in hospital from a severe spinal cord injury. (Family handout/Murphy, Falcon & Murphy)
Duncombe saw police nearby, but their shields were down and their helmets were off.
The police union says the officers are innocent. A lawyer for some of the officers accused Mosby of a rush to judgment that raises grave concerns about the integrity of the prosecution.
"We believe these officers will be vindicated, as they have done nothing wrong," said Michael Davey, attorney for the Baltimore police union, at a news briefing Friday afternoon.
"No officer injured Mr. Gray, caused harm to Mr. Gray; they are truly saddened by his death. No officer did anything wrong."
'No one is above the law'
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a brief statement Friday afternoon that she had ordered the suspension of all six officers.
"No one is above the law," she said, echoing Mosby. The mayor said she had been sickened by the charges against city police officers, but "there will be justice for Mr. Gray."
The stiffest charge — second-degree "depraved heart" murder — was filed against the driver of the police van. It's a more serious charge than manslaughter, but it falls short of premeditated, first-degree murder. Legal authorities suggest that it implies a wanton lack of care about the consequences.
People celebrated in the streets of Baltimore after it was announced that six officers would be charged in Gray's death. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
The other five were charged with crimes including manslaughter, assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office.
Fraternal Order of Police local president Gene Ryan told Mosby in a letter before the charges were announced Friday that none of the six suspended officers were responsible for Gray's death.
Mysterious spinal injury
But Mosby said Gray was illegally arrested, assaulted, falsely accused of carrying an illegal weapon, and then hoisted, handcuffed, into the metal compartment of a police van without the seatbelt that all officers are told they must put on for safety of both detainees and officers.
The officers later failed to get medical help even though Gray requested it repeatedly, she said. At some point along the way, he suffered a mysterious spinal injury and died a week later.
Mosby said the switchblade — which Officer Garrett E. Miller swore in a court record under penalty of perjury that he found clipped inside Gray's pants pocket after he was detained — was in fact a legal knife, and provided no justification for Gray's arrest.
She said Gray was assaulted by Miller, Officer William G. Porter, Officer Edward M. Nero, Lt. Brian W. Rice and Sgt. Alicia D. White. Each faces up to 10 years if convicted of second-degree assault.
The van driver, Officer Caesar R. Goodson, Jr., faces up to 30 years on the murder charge, and 10 years each for involuntary manslaughter, assault and "manslaughter by vehicle." All of the officers also face a charge of misconduct in office.
5 generations of police
Mosby said she comes from five generations of police officers, that she respects and honours how police serve the people, and that this case should in no way damage the relationship between police and prosecutors in Baltimore.
A man fist-bumps police officers while celebrating the news of charges in the Gray case. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
She swiftly rejected a request from the Baltimore police officers union asking her to appoint a special independent prosecutor because of her ties to attorney Billy Murphy, who is representing Gray's family. Murphy was among Mosby's biggest campaign contributors last year, donating the maximum individual amount allowed, $4,000 US, in June. Murphy also served on Mosby's transition team after the election.
The state medical examiner's office said it sent Gray's autopsy report to prosecutors Friday morning. Spokesman Bruce Goldfarb says the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner will not release the report publicly while the case is under investigation.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday it's "absolutely vital" that the truth about what happened to Freddie Gray comes out.
In front of a fire station where Gov. Larry Hogan was scheduled to visit Friday, a man leaning out of a passing truck window pumped both arms in the air and yelled, "Justice! Justice! Justice!"
At the corner of North and Pennsylvania avenues, where the worst of the rioting took place on Monday, drivers honked their horns. When buses stopped in front of the subway station, people spilled out cheering as the doors opened.