Staff Writer
It’s been nearly a month
since Freddie Gray passed, and the six officers involved have finally been
charged with murder or manslaughter. The news brought a sense of justice to the
roused citizens of Baltimore, many of whom have been protesting, and rioting,
since his death.
Here’s what’s happened
to date:
On April 12, Freddie
Gray, a 25 year old black male, was arrested after exchanging eye contact with
the police and running from them. According to the police report, he was
apprehended nonviolently despite reports from bystanders. Once arrested, he was
confined to a police van but not seat belted into the vehicle. The events that
transpired next are unclear.
Upon entering the van,
Gray could walk, talk, and breathe. Exiting was another story altogether. In
the 30 minute van transport to the station, four stops were made. Police
officers documented only three stops: one to put leg irons on Gray, one to
‘deal with Gray’, and a third to pick up an additional prisoner. However, a
private security camera revealed the undocumented fourth stop.
Gray repeatedly asked for medical attention until he was no longer able to form words. An ambulance was called after reaching the police station to deal with his severe medical injuries.
Gray repeatedly asked for medical attention until he was no longer able to form words. An ambulance was called after reaching the police station to deal with his severe medical injuries.
On April 19, 2015,
Freddie Gray died of injuries resulting from a broken neck. Medical experts
quoted by several news outlets have indicated that the injuries Gray was
treated for were more common among ‘victims of high-speed crashes’. Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez
was quoted saying, “None of the officers describe using any force against Mr.
Gray,”
It was revealed that
Gray was a victim of a ‘rough ride. A rough ride is when police purposely drive
unsafely to scare or injure their handcuffed and unbuckled detainee. Gray,
being unbuckled and handcuffed, was another victim of this occurrence. Several
people have filed lawsuits against this unjust treatment and a few even won, as
in the case of another former Baltimore resident Dondi Johnson. Johnson, a
healthy man before experiencing the rough ride, was arrested for public
urination and placed into a transport van. He emerged a quadriplegic and died
two weeks later.
Several protests have
taken place for, what many people deem, a hate crime. Protests started
peacefully, but turned violent, throwing Baltimore into a State of Emergency.
The National Guard was called in. A week long curfew was instituted.
Gray’s family spoke out in an effort to quell the violence in the city.
“I want y’all to get justice for my son, but don’t do it like this here,” said
Gray’s mother to the local media.
On May 1, the six
officers that arrested Gray were charged in connection with Gray’s death.
Officer Goodson, the driver of the van, was charged with second-degree murder,
manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office. The other five received lesser
charges of manslaughter and misconduct. The case was turned over to
prosecutors on April 30, 2015. New information continues to come to light as
the investigation moves forward.
