BALTIMORE (AP): The Latest on the trial of an officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died after he was critically injured in the back of a police van. (all times local):
12:45 p.m.
Family members of a man who died from injuries suffered in police custody are marking the third anniversary of his death on the same day a judge acquitted a Baltimore police officer in the Freddie Gray case.
Family members of Tyrone West stood in front of City Hall on Monday, blocks away from the courthouse where Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted by a Baltimore judge in the death of Gray, a young black man who was critically injured in police custody.
Tawanda Jones, West’s sister, stood by West’s mother, Diane Butler, and other family members. They say police are not being held accountable for wrongdoing.
On July 18, 2013, West was pulled over by police, who searched his trunk and ultimately tackled him as he resisted arrest. He died the same day at a hospital.
An internal affairs investigation stopped short of blaming the officers, but laid out a laundry list of tactical mistakes they made.
12:20 p.m.
Baltimore’s mayor says now that an officer has been acquitted in the death of Freddie Gray, he will face an administrative review by the police department.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tweeted the statement after Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted of manslaughter and other charges in the death of the black man. Gray was critically injured in the back of a police van and died a week later.
Rawlings-Black says the case has been a very difficult time for the city and she thanks the community for their patience. She asked for their continued respect for the judicial process.
Gray’s death set of protest and rioting, the worst the city has endured in decades.
11:50 a.m.
At least two attorneys who have been closely following the trials of officers charged in the custody death of a black man are questioning whether prosecutors should move forward with any more trials.
Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted by a judge Monday, the third straight acquittal in the death of Freddie Gray, who was injured in the back of a police van and died a week later. A fourth officer’s trial ended in a hung jury.
Warren Alperstein, a prominent lawyer in the city who has been observing the case, said prosecutors have exhausted their theories and need to question whether to move forward.
Warren Brown, an attorney who has been observing proceedings, said the state at this point is doing worse than just 0-and-4 because of all the other charges in the case.
Two of the six officers charged have not gone on trial yet.
10:35 a.m.
A judge has acquitted a Baltimore police officer on all charges in the death of Freddie Gray, a black who died after he was injured in a police transport van.
Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted Monday after a bench trial by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams. Rice is the fourth of the six officers charged to go on trial in the 2015 death. Three earlier trials resulted in two acquittals and a mistrial.
Rice faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. Rice is white and the highest-ranking of the officers.
Gray died a week after suffering a spinal injury in the van last year, touching off protests and rioting.
4:45 a.m.
A judge in Baltimore is scheduled to issue his ruling in the case of a police officer charged in the death of a black man injured in a police transport van.
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams will make his ruling public Monday in the trial of Lt. Brian Rice.
Rice is the fourth of the six officers charged to go on trial in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
Rice is the highest-ranking of the officers. Three earlier trails resulted in two acquittals and a mistrial.
Rice faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. Williams previously dismissed a second-degree assault charge, and prosecutors dropped a second misconduct charge.
Gray died a week after suffering a spinal injury in the van last year, touching off protests and rioting.
