Officer Nero Trial: Freddie Gray Arrest Witnesses Speak

BALTIMORE, MD – In the trial of Officer Edward Nero, his colleague who is also facing charges testified about what happened during the arrest of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.

Monday marked the third day of trial for Nero, who opted to have a judge hear his case.

Nero, 30, of Bel Air, is charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office related to the detainment of Gray.

Nero and his colleague Officer Garrett Miller are two of six officers charged in the detainment of Gray.

Officials said Nero and Miller were patrolling an area off North Avenue on bicycle on April 12 when they chased Gray, who made eye contact with a lieutenant and ran.

Miller testified Monday that he never questioned why Gray was chased, according to WJZ.

Gray was arrested April 12, 2015, and died a week later from an injury prosecutors allege he got in a police van.

Prosecutors argued Nero should not have arrested the Baltimore man and that he should have buckled him into the police van.

However, Miller testified that he was the one arrested Gray, putting him in handcuffs, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Upon taking Gray into custody in the 1700 block of Presbury Street, police said the officers found a knife in his front pants pocket.

Brandon Ross, a friend of Gray, captured images of the arrest and said that Nero thrust the detainee on his stomach in the van, according to WJZ.

In a recorded statement Nero gave to investigators after the arrest, which was played in court on Friday, the officer said that Gray was combative.

Days before the arrest, Baltimore Police issued a mandate that all arrestees be buckled into their seats.

A police expert testified that it was up to the officers involved to determine whether it was safe to buckle someone in or if it was less risky to load the person into the van without a seatbelt.

The prosecution rested Monday, and WBAL reports that Judge Barry Williams denied a request by Nero's lawyers to acquit him and dismiss the charges. It is anticipated that Williams may reach a verdict this week.

See Also:

• Freddie Gray Case: Seatbelt, Arrest Questioned in Officer Nero Trial
• Officer in Freddie Gray Case Opts for Trial by Judge
• Bel Air Resident is Among 6 Officers Charged in Freddie Gray Case
• Officer Charged in Freddie Gray Case Challenges Claims

Pictured, Officer Edward Nero. File Photo.