Freddie Gray death: Grand jury indicts police officers

Six Baltimore police officers were charged in the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who died of a severe spinal-cord injury while in police custody. But there were no convictions in the case. Three of the officers were acquitted before <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/27/us/freddie-gray-verdict-baltimore-officers/index.html">prosecutors dropped the charges against the remaining three in July 2016</a>. Seen here is <strong>Lt. Brian Rice</strong>, who was part of the bike patrol that arrested Gray. On July 18, 2016, Rice was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in connection with Gray's arrest and death.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

Six Baltimore police officers were charged in the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who died of a severe spinal-cord injury while in police custody. But there were no convictions in the case. Three of the officers were acquitted before prosecutors dropped the charges against the remaining three in July 2016. Seen here is Lt. Brian Rice, who was part of the bike patrol that arrested Gray. On July 18, 2016, Rice was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in connection with Gray's arrest and death.

Officer <strong>Caesar Goodson</strong> drove the van in which Gray was fatally injured. On June 23, Goodson <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/23/us/baltimore-goodson-verdict-freddie-gray/" target="_blank">was found not guilty</a> on all charges, including the most serious count of second-degree depraved-heart murder.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

Officer Caesar Goodson drove the van in which Gray was fatally injured. On June 23, Goodson was found not guilty on all charges, including the most serious count of second-degree depraved-heart murder.

<strong>William Porter</strong> was the first of the six officers to face a trial. It <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/16/us/baltimore-police-trial-freddie-gray/" target="_blank">ended in a mistrial</a> in December, and he had been scheduled to be retried before prosecutors dropped the charges against him. Porter was summoned by the van's driver to check on Gray during stops on the way to a police station. Prosecutors said Porter should have called a medic for Gray sooner than one was eventually called, and they said he also should have ensured that Gray was wearing a seat belt. Porter had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

William Porter was the first of the six officers to face a trial. It ended in a mistrial in December, and he had been scheduled to be retried before prosecutors dropped the charges against him. Porter was summoned by the van's driver to check on Gray during stops on the way to a police station. Prosecutors said Porter should have called a medic for Gray sooner than one was eventually called, and they said he also should have ensured that Gray was wearing a seat belt. Porter had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

<strong>Edward Nero</strong>, one of three bike officers involved in the initial police encounter with Gray, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/us/freddie-gray-trial-officer-edward-nero/" target="_blank">was found not guilty</a> of all charges in May. He was accused of second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

Edward Nero, one of three bike officers involved in the initial police encounter with Gray, was found not guilty of all charges in May. He was accused of second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

<strong>Garrett Miller</strong> was another one of the bike officers involved in Gray's arrest. He placed Gray in a restraining technique known as a "leg lace" before Gray was placed in the van, said Marilyn Mosby, the state's attorney for Baltimore. All charges were dropped against Miller, who had been indicted on charges of second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

Garrett Miller was another one of the bike officers involved in Gray's arrest. He placed Gray in a restraining technique known as a "leg lace" before Gray was placed in the van, said Marilyn Mosby, the state's attorney for Baltimore. All charges were dropped against Miller, who had been indicted on charges of second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Sgt. <strong>Alicia White</strong> was present during one of the stops to check on Gray's condition. She and two other officers saw Gray unresponsive on the floor of the van, and when White spoke to Gray and he did not respond, she allegedly did nothing to help him, prosecutors said. All charges were dropped against White, who had been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree negligent assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Photos: Baltimore officers in Freddie Gray case

Baltimore Police Department

Sgt. Alicia White was present during one of the stops to check on Gray's condition. She and two other officers saw Gray unresponsive on the floor of the van, and when White spoke to Gray and he did not respond, she allegedly did nothing to help him, prosecutors said. All charges were dropped against White, who had been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree negligent assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Story highlights

Police union: Officers "are innocent until proven guilty"

A grand jury indicts six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray

The officers' arraignment is set for July 2

CNN —

Six Baltimore police officers were indicted Thursday on charges connected to the death of Freddie Gray.

The indictments came after prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury for two weeks, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said.

Gray’s death last month after allegedly suffering a devastating spinal injury while in police custody sparked protests and riots in Baltimore.

The six officers face charges that, if they are convicted, could lead to decades in prison, based on their alleged actions that day. Among them: Illegal arrest, misconduct, assault and involuntary manslaughter.

Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., who prosecutors say was driving the van used to transport Gray after his arrest, faces the most charges, and the most severe: second-degree depraved heart murder.

The list of charges in the indictments the grand jury returned differs slightly from charges Mosby announced earlier this month; all six of the officers now face charges of reckless endangerment, and several other allegations have been removed.

“As our investigation has continued, additional information has been discovered, and as is often the case during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based upon the evidence,” she said.

Mosby didn’t take questions at the press conference and didn’t go into details about what additional evidence had come to light.

The officers are scheduled to be arraigned on July 2, she said.

Mosby’s announcement earlier this month that charges had been filed against the officers brought cheers from protesters and words of protest from the police union.

Attorneys for the officers have called for Mosby to be taken off the case, arguing that she has conflicts of interest – an accusation Mosby denies.

In a statement after the officers’ indictments, the police union called for the community to support police, noting that thousands of men and women in the department protect and serve the city’s neighborhoods

“All citizens are innocent until proven guilty, including these six officers,” Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Ryan said.

A lawyer representing Sgt. Alicia White, who faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault, misconduct and reckless endangerment, denied the accusations.

“I look forward to trying this case against Marilyn Mosby herself and proving Alicia White is innocent,” attorney Ivan Bates said.

Complete coverage on Freddie Gray’s death