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Yes, I first want to acknowledge that every death at the hands of the police is tragic. This is just one case in probably thousands that need to be addressed, that should be addressed, whether or not they make front page news. That said, newsworthy tragedy does attract a lot of attention. The public is both the salvation and the problem. There is a lot of psychology around living vicariously through other people’s lives and how we can grieve for a man only a few have ever met.
The same thing happened to us during the death of Indigenous activist Dudley George at the hands of the Ontario Provincial Police and/or the Canadian military. Just like with Black Lives Matter, there was so much going on behind the scenes at Ipperwash.
George’s sister Carolyn and brother Pierre had attempted to take him to the local hospital for treatment but were arrested and delayed by the OPP for over an hour where George didn’t make it. George was declared dead at 12:20 a.m. on September 7, 1995
The Case of Freddie Gray
There are only a few certain factors that are not in doubt here, only being that Freddie Gray is dead.
Gray died from blunt force trauma at the back of a police wagon while in transport. While at first there was some confusion, it turned out that eyewitnesses stated that it was a case of unnecessary force. This claim was denied by the officers present.
Commissioner Anthony W. Batts went against step and reported that, contrary to department policy the officers did not secure Gray inside the van while driving to the police station. This policy had been put into effect six days prior to Gray’s arrest due to a review of other transport-related injuries sustained during police custody in the city, and elsewhere in the country during the preceding years.
Upon starting the medical investigation, it found that Gray had sustained the injuries while in transport the day of his arrest including a badly broken neck.
On May 1, 2015, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, announced her office had filed charges against six police officers after the medical examiner’s report ruled Gray’s death a homicide on the grounds that Gray had died as a result of a ‘rough ride’ — a form of police brutality in which a victim is helplessly thrown around by deliberately abrupt driving while unable to keep themselves safe due to use of restraints.
Rough rides were already implicated in deaths, paralysis, and severe spinal injuries in several other cases. A rough ride had caused the death of Freddy Gray.
The prosecutors stated that they had probable cause to file criminal charges against the six police officers who were believed to be involved in his death.
— Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr.: The driver of the van. He was charged with second-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assaul, manslaughter by vehicle (gross negligence), manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence), and misconduct in office. He posted a U.S. $350,000 bail. The grand jury indicted Goodson on all charges and added an indictment of reckless endangerment.
— Officers Garrett E. Miller and Edward M. Nero: The officers that caught Gray after he fled, and, after apprehending him, handcuffed Gray with his arms behind his back. Miller was charged with two counts of second degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office, and false imprisonment. Nero was charged with two counts of second degree assault. misconduct in office and false imprisonment. Each posted a U.S. $250,000 bail. The false imprisonment charges were dropped by the grand jury, but an indictment of reckless endangerment was added.
— Officer William G. Porter: Met up with the van after Goodson called dispatchers to ask for an officer to come check on Gray. He was requested twice by Gray for a medic, but did not call for one. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, and misconduct in office. Porter posted a U.S. $350,000 bail. The grand jury indicted Porter on all charges and added an indictment of reckless endangerment. On December 16, 2015 a mistrial was declared on all changes, after the jury was hung and could not come to a decision.
— Lt. Brian W. Rice: The officer who initially made eye contact with Gray while on a bicycle patrol. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree assault, manslaughter by vehicle (gross negligence), two counts of misconduct in office, and false imprisonment. He posted a U.S. $350,000 bail. The false imprisonment charges were dropped by the grand jury, which added an indictment of reckless endangerment.
– Alicia D. White: White is accused of not calling for medical assistance when she encountered Gray, “despite the fact she was advised that he needed a medic.” She was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, and misconduct. She posted a US$350,000 bail. The grand jury indicted White on all charges and added an indictment of reckless endangerment.
A mistrial has been declared in the first trail for Freddy Gray on December 16, 2015,
According to the New Yorker, “The defense attorney in the first of six trials for Gray’s killing, that of a twenty-six-year-old African-American cop named William Porter, has argued that the critical act took place a few minutes after his client’s involvement, and has tried to shift blame to another officer, who is scheduled to go on trial later this winter, before a separate jury. The jurors in Porter’s trial said yesterday afternoon they were deadlocked, and the judge sent them back to deliberate further.”
It turns out that when an agreement could not be reached as the jurors could not agree a verdict on any of the four cases, the judge had to declare a mistrial.
More to come.
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