Bel Air Officer Charged in Freddie Gray Case Challenges Claims

The Baltimore police officer accused of false imprisonment and other charges in the arrest of Freddie Gray is reportedly disputing the claims.

Officer Edward Nero, 29, of Bel Air was one of six police officers charged Friday for their involvement in detaining Gray, who later died in police custody.

Nero was patrolling an area off North Avenue on bicycle April 12 when he and a fellow officer chased 25-year-old Gray, who made eye contact with their lieutenant and ran from them, officials said. Nero and the other officer found a knife in Gray’s front pants pocket, according to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to Mosby, the knife was legal and the arrest was illegal. “The blade of the knife was folded into the handle,” Mosby said Friday. “The knife was not a switchblade and is lawful under Maryland law.”

Nero was charged Friday morning with false imprisonment, two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of misconduct in office.

On Monday, Nero’s lawyer filed a motion in Baltimore City District Court stating that the knife was illegal and requesting that police and the state’s attorney produce the knife for inspection, according to WBAL.

Marc L. Zayo, the attorney for Nero, said that the blue pocket knife violated Baltimore City code, according to The Baltimore Sun.

In the city of Baltimore, it is illegal to carry, possess or sell switchblade knives, outlined in the following police ordinance: “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade, commonly known as a switch-blade knife.”

Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or one year in jail.

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