Freddie Gray Van Driver Not Guilty Of Police Violations: Report

BALTIMORE, MD — More than two years after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, the Baltimore Police Department has found the driver of the van Gray was riding in not guilty on all administrative charges, according to reports.

Officer Caesar Goodson, 48, was the first of three officers to face an administrative review board after a probe found he may have violated departmental policies in the April 2015 case of Gray. A guilty finding could have led to termination.

To avoid bias, the Baltimore Police Department outsourced its internal affairs investigation to the Howard and Montgomery police departments.

There were 21 charges brought against Goodson, accounting for more than 80 alleged infractions of departmental policy, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported the three-member panel of law enforcement officials tasked with making a ruling cleared him of all charges, in a decision that was final, Tuesday afternoon.

A Prince George's County police major oversaw the hearings for Goodson, which began last week and wrapped up on Monday, according to WBAL. The not guilty findings resulted in "thunderous pats on the back" and "vigorous hugs" among Goodson and his police union attorneys, WBAL Radio reported.

The alleged violations included not seeking medical attention for Gray, not securing him with a seat belt, not documenting what happened the day of the arrest (April 12, 2015) and giving different statements to Montgomery and Howard police officers who were investigating.

Gray was arrested on April 12, 2015, after making eye contact with a lieutenant and running. He died a week later from what prosecutors alleged were spinal injuries suffered in a Baltimore Police Department van driven by Goodson.

After the funeral for 25-year-old Gray, riots erupted in parts of the city, requiring the National Guard to help quell the unrest. Days later, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six officers.

Goodson was one of the six Baltimore Police officers who was criminally charged and later acquitted in connection with the detainment of Gray. Goodson faced the most serious charge: second-degree depraved-heart murder. He was cleared of all charges at a bench trial in June 2016.

While no criminal charges stuck to any of the officers, an internal investigation indicated that five of the officers may have violated departmental policies.

Goodson, Officer Garrett Miller, Officer Edward Nero, Lt. Brian Rice and Sgt. Alicia White were found to have violated unspecified policies and procedures, according to The Sun, which said that they could face punishments up to termination.

Nero and Miller both accepted unspecified disciplinary action in lieu of appearing before the administrative review board "to move on and continue their careers," their police union attorney told the Associated Press in October; both are reportedly working for special operations within the Baltimore Police Department.

"As one of the three administrative hearing boards has just concluded, I remain committed to the process as established by the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBR)," Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said in a statement. "Two administrative hearing boards remain, and we will stay the course for the remainder of this process."

The commissioner also acknowledged the loss that prompted the case.

"Freddie Gray died in police custody," Davis said. "My thoughts and prayers remain with the Gray family. We will continue to make improvements within our organization to meet the expectations of constitutional policing demanded by our community."

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• 5 Officers In Freddie Gray Case Subject To Police Disciplinary Action: Report
• Freddie Gray Case Ends With Final Charges Dropped, Zero Guilty Findings For Officers

Photo of Officer Caesar Goodson courtesy of Baltimore Police Department.

This article has been updated.