Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged six local police officers with murder and manslaughter in the death of serial criminal Freddie Gray on May 1, 2015.
The six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are (top row from left) Caesar Goodson Jr., Garrett Miller, Edward Nero and (bottom row from left) William Porter, Brian Rice and Alicia White. (Baltimore Police Department via AP)
The Baltimore Police Chief released a statement after the arrests saying the police are more afraid of going to jail in the city under the current Democratic leadership than they are of taking a bullet.
The Freddie Gray autopsy found the young Baltimore man’s death was an accident – not murder.
Baltimore police officer Edward Nero was found ‘not guilty’ Monday for his role in the death of Freddie Gray.
The Huffington Post reported:
Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty on Monday for his alleged role in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray a year ago.
Nero, 30, was facing misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault and two counts of misconduct in office for his part in Gray’s arrest. He was also charged with reckless endangerment for shackling Gray and placing him in a police van without buckling his seatbelt. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Nero is the second of six officers to stand trial in connection to the death of Gray, a black man who sustained a fatal spinal cord injury in police custody on April 12, 2015. Gray died from his injuries a week later, on April 19, sparking citywide protests against police brutality. After his funeral on April 27, the unrest intensified — residents looted stores and set fires, and protesters threw rocks and other items at police lines.
Baltimore Police Officer William Porter was the first to stand trial, in December, but the jury could not reach a verdict. Unlike Porter, Nero opted for a bench trial.
Some residents, according to a local Fox affiliate, wondered if the reaction to Nero’s verdict would be as intense as that to Gray’s funeral.
Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero enters courthouse. Judge expected to issue verdict in Freddie Gray death trial.https://t.co/CawQGWcUQC
— AJ+ (@ajplus) May 23, 2016