Prosecutors failed to convict an officer for the death of Freddie Gray for the fourth time as a judge acquitted Lt. Brian Rice of all charges today (July 18).
Rice was the highest-ranking policeman being tried for the death of Gray, a 25-year-old man who was arrested and put in a police van after running away from law enforcement in Baltimore. He suffered spinal injuries during the ride to the police station and died from his injuries a week later.
Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams did not find enough evidence to convict Rice for a crime, saying that his conduct, including failing to put Gray’s seatbelt on him, was not “grossly negligent” and that he did not act “corruptly,” the Baltimore Sun reports.
Rice was facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct. Two other charges were previously dropped throughout the trial: second-degree assault and a second count of misconduct.
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In May, officer Edward M. Nero was acquitted of charges of second-degree assault, misconduct and reckless endangerment. Officer Caesar Goodson, who drove the van, was also acquitted of all charges last month.
Officer William Porter’s case was declared a mistrial in December after a jury could not decide what to charge him with.
Two more officers, Garrett Miller and Sgt. Alicia White, are awaiting trials that start July 27 and October 13 respectively. Both have pleaded not guilty.
#FreddieGray was once again one of the top trending topics on Twitter. View some of the posts below.
