Thousands In Baltimore Put On Lockdown As Freddie Gray Protests Turn Violent

More than 1,000 people took to the streets of Baltimore on Saturday, virtually shutting down parts of the city in a massive protest that turned tense and then violent a week after the mysterious death of a black man, Freddie Gray, whose spine was broken while in police custody.

As night fell in Baltimore, hundreds of city officers supported by Maryland State Police stood shoulder-to-shoulder as human barricades, often under assault, to prevent crowds from spreading.

• See: Social Media Captures Ugly Scenes In Baltimore Protest

Authorities told University of Maryland at Baltimore students to shelter in place until further notice, and thousands of baseball fans watching the Orioles at Camden Yards were trapped inside the stadium, ordered to stay put while police tried to gain control of the streets outside, the scene of the most serious violence in the city.

Twitter accounts from fans said police were allowing them to leave by 10:20 p.m.

Larry Collins from Fox45 reported two officers were injured and arrests were being made. A dozen arrests were reported by 10:30 p.m.

In live television reports carried in the Baltimore area, protesters could be seen hurtling bottles and other debris at police in riot gear. A social media video showed one man hurl a flaming trash can at police and other protesters stomping atop cars parked in the streets.

Gray died a week after he was taken into custody by Baltimore City Police. Initial reports note that Gray’s spine was broken, but it’s unclear how he sustained the injury. The six police officers involved in Gray’s arrest and transport have been suspended while the case is investigated.

Saturday’s protests followed a week of smaller gatherings as the public demand answers and draw comparisons between Gray’s case and other recent fatal incidents involving police.

See more at Patch:

• Baltimore Police Seek Witnesses in Freddie Gray Case
• Thousands Expected At Baltimore Rally Saturday After Death In Police Custody
• General Assembly Proposes Police Conduct Reforms
• Baltimore Police: 6 Officers Suspended After Freddie Gray Death

The protests during most of Saturday were peaceful, but turned violent near dark in the area of Camden Yards. Social media reports showed photos and video of protesters smashing the windows of police cars, rushing the commercial mall at the Inner Harbor and looting at least two stores.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake blamed the violence on outside agitators.

“A small group of agitators intervened and turned what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration into a violence protest,” Rawlings-Blake said. “This is something that was unacceptable to me and everyone who lives in Baltimore.”

At 7:30 p.m., students at nearby UMB were told to stay in a safe location due to the civil unrest near campus. The alert was still active 90 minutes later.

Spectators were asked to stay inside the stadium at Camden Yards, where the Orioles were taking on the Red Sox, ”due to events outside Oriole Park,” according to the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management.

The front window of a police cruiser was busted out near the ballpark. WJBF notes, “A protester grabbed a police hat inside and wore it while standing on top of the cruiser with several other protesters.”