'Waste of Time and Money': MD Governor on Upcoming Freddie Gray Police Trials

BALTIMORE, MD — The governor of Maryland reportedly called the remaining trials of police officers in the death of Freddie Gray a "waste of time and money."

Six officers were charged in connection with the in-custody death of the 25-year-old man.

After the acquittal of Lt. Brian Rice on Monday, three officers have been cleared of criminal charges. Officer Edward Nero, Officer Caesar Goodson and now Rice have been cleared at bench trials.

Gov. Larry Hogan made the remarks to The Washington Post after the verdict was handed down Monday in Rice's case.

"It's a waste of time and money" to proceed with the three remaining trials, Hogan said, now that two officers have been acquitted through bench trials and a third was set to be retried due to a hung jury. He added this caveat: "But that's up to the court system to decide."

Trying the six officers is indeed costing the city and its employees a sizable chunk of time and money. For two days of pretrial hearings in September, Baltimore spent a minimum of $450,000 for police coverage related to the proceedings, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Ryan agreed with the governor that the trials should not continue. "Based upon the evidence presented in previous trials, we are certain the remaining three officers will also be found not guilty," Ryan said in a statement.

See Also:

• Lt. Brian Rice Acquitted in Freddie Gray Trial
• Jury Hung on Officer's Role in Freddie Gray's Death
• Freddie Gray Family to Receive $6.4M from Baltimore for Wrongful Death

Not all elected officials agree that the trials should stop.

"There was suspected wrongdoing...and it went to a court," Delegate Curt Anderson told The Baltimore Sun about the charges waged against the police officers. "They had to stand in the light of scrutiny."

Prosecutors alleged Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury inside a police van and died a week later, on April 19, 2015. In the acquittals, Judge Barry Williams has cited insufficient evidence.

No matter the ultimate verdict, the process of going through the system is required for justice to be served, according to Anderson, who represents Baltimore City and chairs the criminal justice subcommittee.

The next to face trial is Officer Garrett Miller, whose proceedings are set to begin on Wednesday, July 27.

Officer William Porter, whose case ended in a mistrial with a hung jury, will be retried on Sept. 6; and lastly, Sgt. Alicia White is set to go to trial on Oct. 13.

File Photo.