Judge: Police Statements Fair Game in Freddie Gray Case

For the first time, all six officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray appeared in court, as a judge determined whether some of their statements would be admitted into evidence at trial.

At previous hearings, only the lawyers showed up while their clients waived their rights to appear; and at one hearing in late September, five officers turned out for a hearing about the order in which they would go to trial.

See scenes from the courthouse here.

Charges against the six officers range from reckless endangerment to murder, based on their alleged roles in the detainment of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old Baltimore man who was arrested April 12 and died a week later from what officials said was a spinal injury in police custody.

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 (listed at the end of the the article).

Lawyers for Sgt. Alicia White argued that their client, who provided statements on April 12 and April 17 about Gray, was not read her rights and did not know she was being questioned as a suspect, according to WJZ.

Judge Barry Williams ruled Tuesday,with all officers present in the courtroom, that the statements of both White and Officer William Porter would be admissible at trial, WJZ reported.

One officer—Caesar Goodson, who drove the police van containing Gray—did not provide a statement.

Upon learning that White and Porter’s statements would hold up in court, the three other officers who wanted their statements taken off the record—Lt. Brian Rice, Officer Garrett Miller and Officer Edward Nero—withdrew their requests, The Baltimore Sun reported.

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

A second hearing was slated for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14; however, ABC 2 reports that Judge Williams canceled that hearing.

See Also:

• Officers in Freddie Gray Case to Appear in Court
• First Trial in Freddie Gray Case Set for November
• Demonstrators Cheer Judge’s Decision to Keep Trials in Baltimore
• Gray Family to Receive $6.4M in Wrongful Death Settlement

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.