Freddie Gray Case: 2 Baltimore Cops Sue Prosecutor for Defamation

BALTIMORE, MD — With two prosecution setbacks in trials for Baltimore police officers charged in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray – one mistrial and one not guilty verdict – two of the accused officers have filed a lawsuit against prosecutors for defamation and invasion of privacy.

Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter, who are both charged with involuntary manslaughter in Gray’s death, filed the lawsuit against State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore Sheriff's Office Maj. Sam Cogen, and the state of Maryland in Baltimore Circuit Court on May 2, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Six officers were charged after the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who died from injuries sustained in the back of a police van.

On Monday, Judge Barry Williams found Officer Edward Nero not guilty of assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in Gray’s death.

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After Gray’s funeral, riots erupted in parts of the city, requiring the National Guard to help restore calm. Days later, Mosby announced charges against six officers. Officer William Porter's case ended in a mistrial in December.

In their lawsuit, White and Porter claim Mosby and Cogen knew the statement of charges filed against the officers and other statements made by Mosby at a May 1, 2015 news conference announcing the charges against the officers "were false."

Police said that Nero, who was patrolling an area off North Avenue on bicycle on April 12, 2015, pursued Gray with fellow bicycle patrol Officer Garrett Miller after a lieutenant reported that Gray made eye contact with him and ran.

Political leaders and the police department on Monday urged calm and respect for the judicial process with more officer trials pending, while the City of Baltimore's police union cheered the not-guilty verdict and condemned the prosecutions.

Following the verdict, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said that Nero will face an administrative review by the police department.

"We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion," she wrote in a statement.

The Baltimore city police union issued a statement saying Officer Nero is relieved that the nightmare of a trial and false accusation of wrongdoing is over for him.

“His relief is tempered by the fact that five other police officers, outstanding men and women, and good friends, must continue to fight these baseless prosecutions,” the union says. “None of these officer did anything wrong.”

The police union charges that the state’s attorney rushed to file charges in the wake of the riots without thorough investigation.

“They seized a political opportunity, and in the process destroyed six lives,” the union said.

— With reporting by Elizabeth Janney