Judge James K. Bredar ruled Friday for a consent decree allowing the overhauling of the Baltimore Police Department after a scathing 2016 Department of Justice report revealed officers operated with racial bias and used excessive force disproportionately on African Americans.
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A museum will also go alongside the memorial to trace the country's history from slavery to present day. The structure is slated to open in April 2017.
Ayear after Freddie Gray‘s death while in police custody, the Justice Department released a scathing report proving the Baltimore Police Department purposely targets the city’s Black population. In the 163-page report released on Wednesday, investigators pinpointed just how the department violated the rights of the people its officers are sworn to protect. Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby […]
Mosby called for system reform after the failure to find any criminal involvement in Gray's death. "We know that Freddie Gray did not kill himself," she contended.
Based on Judge Williams' ruling, prosecutors failed to prove that Rice acted negligently and knew of the risks associated with not securing Gray's seatbelt during his arrest on April 12, 2015.
T.J. Smith, a department spokesperson, told NBC News a motive was unavailable at the time of reporting. The names of the responding officers and the suspect were not made public.
Prosecutors allege Lt. Brian Rice failed to secure Gray's seat belt in the back of the van during his arrest. Gray died a week later after sustaining a fatal neck injury.
Judge Barry Williams declared Officer Goodson not guilty of second-degree depraved murder on Thursday.
Goodson faces the most serious charges in the Freddie Gray trial, including second-degree “depraved-heart” murder, manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment charges. He opted for a bench trial in early June.
Goodson's fellow officers involved say that he is to blame for not ensuring Freddie Gray's safety in the back of the police van.
On April 12, 2015, Gray, 25, was arrested and died a week later from complications relating to a spinal cord injury after riding in the back of a police van.
The Baltimore Police Department is back in the news after a home video went viral.
