6 officers indicted in Baltimore death

BALTIMORE -- All six officers charged in the police-custody death of Freddie Gray were indicted by a grand jury, a prosecutor said Thursday.

• INTERACTIVE: Rioting in Baltimore

The indictments announced Thursday were very similar to the charges Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced about three weeks ago. The most serious charge for each officer, ranging from second-degree "depraved heart" murder to assault, still stood, though some of the other lesser alleged offenses had changed.

Gray suffered a critical spinal injury after police handcuffed, shackled and placed him head-first into a van, Mosby has said. His pleas for medical attention were repeatedly ignored.

Mosby said prosecutors presented evidence to the grand jury for the past two weeks. Some of the charges were changed based on new information, but she didn't say what that was. She also did not take questions.

"As is often the case, during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based upon the evidence," Mosby said.

Attorneys for the officers have said in court documents they are the victims of an "overzealous prosecution" riddled with personal and political conflicts of interest. They said at a minimum, Mosby should be replaced with an independent prosecutor because she had a personal interest in calming unrest in the city after Gray's death and because her husband is a city councilman.

Gray was arrested April 12. He died in a hospital a week later and became a symbol of what protesters say was police brutality against blacks.

The grand jury added charges of reckless endangerment to the counts each officer faces, while those facing charges of false imprisonment saw those charges removed. Because grand jury proceedings are secret, it was unclear whether the amended charges were the result of the prosecution's request or changes made by the grand jurors.

Caesar Goodson, the driver of the van used to transport Gray, remains charged with second-degree depraved heart murder. He also is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of vehicular manslaughter and misconduct in office.

Officer William Porter, Lt. Brian Rice, and Sgt. Alicia White, face charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office. Officers Edward Nero and Garrett Miller are charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.

Gray's death spawned protests that gave way at least twice to violence, looting and arson. During the riots, Democratic Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake implemented a curfew for all Baltimore residents, and Republican Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency.

Gray was arrested in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of West Baltimore. According to court documents, he made eye contact with a police officer and took off running. He was apprehended two blocks away and arrested for possession of a knife that Miller wrote in charging documents is illegal under a city ordinance.

Mosby said the arrest was unlawful because the knife is legal under state law.

None of the officers secured Gray's seat belt in the van, a violation of police policy.

After a ride that included several more stops, including one to pick up a second passenger, the van arrived at the Western District station house. By that time, Gray was nonresponsive.

Information for this article was contributed by Justin Fenton, Alison Knezevich, Justin George and Colin Campbell of The Baltimore Sun.

A Section on 05/22/2015