Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, has been cleared of all charges. He was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office.
Rice was the officer who loaded Gray into the van and, according to testimony, failed to properly secure him with a seat belt.
Judge Barry Williams held a bench trial rather than a jury verdict or trial for Brian Rice. The judge allegedly did so in order to bring an impartial view to the case and not get caught up in public opinion. The same judge acquitted officers Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson in earlier trials related to Freddie Gray’s death.
The death of Freddie Gray caused massive civil unrest in the city of Baltimore, and six police officers were charged in his death.
On April 12, 2015, Gray was arrested and loaded in the back of a police van. At some point during transport to the police station, Gray suffered a broken neck. He died a week later from the injury. Medical examiners testified that Gray’s injuries happened all at once, and they had to occur on the way to the van’s final stop.
Gray was speaking and did not require help prior to reaching that stop.
Brian Rice did not testify in his own trial, but two other officers who were arrested in conjunction with the case did. The officers claimed that Gray was resisting and flailing and was not properly secured with a seat belt because of the amount of force that would be required to force him onto the bench.
Gray told one of the officers he wanted to go to the hospital, but he did not show any obvious signs of injury.
Although he has been found not guilty of all charges, the story is not yet complete for Brian Rice. He will now face an official administrative review from the Baltimore Police Department.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiZSnDuPGns&ab_channel=wochitNews
Featured Image: Wochit YouTube Video And Baltimore Police Department.
