Maryland State Troopers Called In To Baltimore City Amid Protests

The governor has authorized Maryland State Police presence in Baltimore, as protests continue around the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old Baltimore man who died from a spinal cord injury one week after he was arrested.

Gov. Larry Hogan said that Baltimore City requested the additional police presence amid days of demonstrations, and 32 state troopers arrived in the city Thursday afternoon, according to The Baltimore Sun.

“The Baltimore Police Department as a matter of past practice asks for the assistance of local and state law enforcement partners for any large-scale event, festival and other occasions that draw large crowds,” the department said in a statement Thursday.

State troopers are serving in “backup capacity” for Baltimore City police, a spokesperson for the governor told CNN.

The Baltimore Police Department also said it has canceled leave for members of its force to “ensure adequate coverage of the city.”

Tensions are high between community members and Baltimore City police after the April 19 death of Gray, whose arrest and injuries are under investigation by the Baltimore Police, U.S. Department of Justice and a local civil rights group.

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