On April 12, 2015, 25-year-old Freddie Gray was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department, only to die in the hospital a week later. Gray was arrested for allegedly possessing an illegal switchblade, although the blade turned out to be completely legal. In footage of the arrest, Gray’s screams are evident while he is pinned to the ground and manhandled into the van.
Although Gray requested his inhaler, he was denied medical attention by officers. Multiple police department policies are violated in this case, as the officer driving was accused of giving Gray a ‘rough ride.’ A rough ride is when an officer disciplines someone by not providing a seat belt and driving erratically. This accusation arose as Gray had fallen into a coma due to spinal injuries, on top of him asking for medical attention and complaining of respiratory problems. His medical condition is further ignored when the van took four confirmed stops while he was detained. Gray finally arrived at the hospital in critical condition, and his spine was 80% severed at his neck.
Gray suffered various injuries, including three fractured vertebrae, injuries to his voice box, as well as going into cardiopulmonary arrest. Medical examiners confirm Gray’s death was due to spinal injuries. Examiners reported many injuries were a result of slamming into the inside of the vehicle, making his death a homicide. Following Gray’s death, there was a peaceful protest, many people holding signs of the Black Lives Matter movement. Once details concerning Gray’s death are released to the public, this protest takes a violent turn quickly.
Six police officers involved in Gray’s arrest are being tried with criminal charges, each undergoing a separate trial. In December 2015, Officer William Porter’s trial was deemed a mistrial, as the jury could not come to a decision. In May 2016, Officer Edward Nero is deemed not guilty and is acquitted of all charges against him. And most recently, on June 23, 2016, Officer Caesar Goodman is also declared not guilty.
