Baltimore riots: Grand jury indicts 6 police officers in Freddie Gray's murder
Six Baltimore Police officers were indicted on various charges by a grand jury on 21 May in the death of Freddie Gray.
The indictments were announced in a late-afternoon press conference by Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J Mosby almost three weeks after she announced criminal charges against the six. According to the Baltimore Sun, some of the charges in the indictment were different than those announced on 1 May.
Officer Caesar R Goodson, who drove the police van that transported Gray on 12 April, continues to be charged with second-degree depraved heart murder, along with manslaughter, second-degree assault, vehicular manslaughter (gross negligence, vehicular manslaughter), criminal negligence, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
Officer William Porter was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
Meanwhile, Officer Garrett E Miller was charged with second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. Miller's second-degree assault and false imprisonment charges were dropped.
Officer Edward M Nero faces charges of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. Like Miller, Nero's second-degree assault and false imprisonment charges were dropped, the Sun reported.
Lt. Brian W Rice is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. According to the Sun, Rice's second-degree assault and false imprisonment charges were dropped.
Sgt. Alicia D White is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
According to NBC News, Mosby did not explain why certain charges were dropped and why others were added, other than saying that "additional information was discovered, and, as is often the case during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based on the evidence."
All six have been released on bail.
Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury while in police custody after being arrested for the possession of a switchblade on 12 April. His death a week later sparked protests in Baltimore and throughout the country. The protests in Baltimore turned violent with a night of rioting and looting that led to the National Guard being called in.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has also opened an investigation into the Baltimore Police Department to determine whether the law enforcement department had committed civil rights violations, NBC News reported.
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