Officers in Freddie Gray Case to Appear in Court

The police officers charged in connection with the death of a Baltimore man are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday and Wednesday for pretrial hearings.

While court officials have not said what the topic of the hearings will be, The Baltimore Sun reports they will likely center around whether statements the officers made will be admissible in court.

Six officers are charged with offenses ranging from reckless endangerment to second-degree murder in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.

Gray, a 25-year-old Baltimore man, was arrested April 12 and died a week later from what officials said was a spinal injury in police custody.

Five of the six officers involved in his detainment provided statements at the time of the initial investigation and have since given various reasons why these should not be admissible in court, from not being read their Miranda rights to being forced to give information for fear of losing their jobs, according to The Sun.

The Maryland Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights stipulates that statements police provide as part of their jobs may not be used against them in court.

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After Gray’s funeral in late April, there were riots in parts of Baltimore City, drawing the National Guard to help quell the unrest.

Days after the riots, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six officers involved in Gray’s detainment.

The officers were indicted on the following charges:

• Officer Edward Nero, 29, was on bicycle and arrested Gray in the 1700 block of Presbury Street; Nero is charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office.
• Officer Garrett Miller, 26, made the arrest with Nero on police bicycle; Miller is charged with second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
• Lt. Brian Rice, 41, ordered the pursuit of Gray after he made eye contact with law enforcement on North Avenue; Rice was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
• Sgt. Alicia White, 30, was called to investigate citizen complaints about Gray’s arrest; White was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
• Officer William Porter, 26, responded to the police van driver’s request for assistance to check on Gray; he is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
• Officer Caesar Goodson, 49, was driving the police van containing Gray; he was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, second-degree assault, vehicular manslaughter, criminal negligent manslaughter, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

The officers are scheduled to stand trial separately, the first one in November and the last starting in March.

The pretrial hearings will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Baltimore City Circuit Court, 111 N. Calvert St., Baltimore.