How 6 Officers Contributed to Death of Freddie Gray: State's Attorney

Six police officers have been been charged in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, according to Baltimore City’s top prosecutor. One is accused of second-degree murder.

Gray’s death came after repeated failures by officers to render aid and adhere to Baltimore Police Department policy of buckling passengers into police vans, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said.

Here’s is an outline of the roles the officers played in Gray’s death, according to Mosby:

1. Officer Caesar Goodson, 45, is charged among other offenses with second-degree depraved heart murder, which means he displayed disregard for human life and reckless action in a murder that was not intentional.
   
   Goodson drove the police van with Gray inside April 12.
   
   The state’s attorney said that Gray was fatally injured while in the police van, where he was not buckled in, which is required by Baltimore Police in the transport of prisoners.
   
   ”...Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon,” Mosby said. “...the manner of death, deemed a homicide by the Maryland State Medical Examiner, is believed to be the result of a fatal injury that occurred while Mr. Gray was unrestrained by a seatbelt in the custody of the Baltimore Police Department wagon.”
   
   She added: “In a grossly negligent manner,” Goodson opted to pick up a second prisoner. The driver did so after he made three stops, including two to “check on” Gray , who indicated he needed a medic.
   
   Goodson is charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, vehicular manslaughter (gross negligence), vehicular manslaughter (criminal negligence) and misconduct in office.
   
   
2. Officer Garrett Miller, 26, and Officer Edward Nero, 29, wrongfully arrested Gray and assaulted him, according to Mosby.
   
   After Gray surrendered to police in the 1700 block of Presbury Street, Miller and Nero found a knife clipped inside Gray’s pants. “The blade of the knife was folded into the handle. The knife was not a switchblade and is lawful under Maryland law,” Mosby said.
   
   After finding the legal knife, “Officer Miller placed Mr. Gray in a restraining technique known as a leg lace” and “Mr. Gray began to flail his legs and scream...” according to Mosby.
   
   
3. Officer Edward Nero, 29, was a fellow bike police officer with Miller who arrested Gray. He held down Gray as Miller put the man in the leg lace.
   
   Miller and Nero “failed to establish probable cause for Mr. Gray’s arrest,” she said. They also did not provide medical aid when Gray asked for an inhaler.
   
   Both Miller and Nero were charged with false imprisonment, two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of misconduct in office.
   
   
4. Lt. Brian Rice, 41, led the pursuit that resulted in Gray’s arrest. He made eye contact with Gray on North Avenue, then gave chase, at which point Miller and Nero took off after Gray on bike.
   
   After the arrest, Rice, Miller and Nero stopped the police van on Baker Street, where they ”removed Mr. Gray from the wagon, placed flex cuffs on his wrists, placed leg shackles on his ankles and completed required paperwork,” Mosby said.
   
   “Officer Miller, Officer Nero and Lt. Rice then loaded Mr. Gray back into the wagon, placing him on his stomach head first onto the floor of the wagon,” Mosby said. “Once again, Mr. Gray was not secured by a seatbelt in the wagon, contrary to a BPD general order. Lt. Rice then directed Officer Goodson to transport Mr. Gray to the central booking and intake facility.”
   
   Rice is charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and false imprisonment.
   
   
5. Sgt. Alicia White, 30, saw Gray unresponsive and did not take action. She was there when Goodson was picking up the second prisoner for transport on North Avenue.
   
   “White, who was responsible for investigating two citizen complaints pertaining to Mr. Gray’s illegal arrest, spoke to the back of Mr. Gray’s head,” Mosby said. “When he did not respond, she did nothing further despite the fact that she was advised he needed a medic. She made no effort to look or assess or determine his condition. Despite Mr. Gray’s seriously deteriorating medical condition, no medical assistance was rendered or summonsed for Mr. Gray at that time by any officer.” Another officer, William Porter, witnessed the scene with the prisoner unresponsive, she said.
   
   White is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
   
   
6. Officer William Porter, 25, saw Gray during two of the four stops the police van made. The driver asked for help to check on Gray near Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue.
   
   “Mr. Gray at that time requested help and indicated he could not breathe. Officer Porter asked Mr. Gray if he needed a medic, at which time Mr. Gray indicated at least twice that he was in need of a medic,” Mosby said.
   
   “Officer Porter then physically assisted Mr. Gray from the floor of the van to the bench,” she said. “However, despite Mr. Gray’s appeal for a medic, both officers [Porter and Goodson] assessed Mr. Gray’s condition and at no point did either of them restrain Mr. Gray per BPD general order nor did they render or request medical assistance.”
   
   She continued: “While discussing the transportation of Mr. Gray for medical attention, a request for additional units was made for an arrest at the 1600 West North Avenue. Officer Porter left the vicinity of Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue to assist in the arrest of another prisoner at North Avenue.”
   
   Goodson drove the van to the area to pick up the second prisoner and again Porter encountered Gray.
   
   ”Sgt. Alicia White, Officer Porter and Officer Goodson observed Mr. Gray unresponsive on the floor of the wagon,” Mosby said. “Despite Mr. Gray’s seriously deteriorating medical condition no medical assistance was rendered or summonsed for Mr. Gray at that time by any officer.”
   
   Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
   

See Also:

• Why Baltimore Burned
• Baltimore City’s Attorney on Freddie Gray Report: ‘Not New to Us’
• Police Identify Six Officers Involved in Freddie Gray’s Arrest
• Criminal Charges to be Filed, Death Ruled Homicide
• Baltimore Police: Privately Owned Camera Uncovered New Detail in Freddie Gray Case