Biggest rally in Baltimore
PROBE INTO GRAY CASE IS MOVING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, COMMISSIONER SAYS
After a week of protests, people angry over the unexplained police-custody death of Freddie Gray promised their biggest march yesterday, when they would try to “shut down” the city.
The mayor thanked protesters for being peaceful so far and said the police commissioner assured her the investigation into Gray’s death is moving as quickly as possible. She expects the results to be turned over to prosecutors in a week. They will decide whether any criminal charges will be filed.
“I will not deny we have had a very long and complicated history on issues such as these,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said yesterday. “But it’s important to remember that we have an equally long history of peaceful and legal protest.”
Gray was arrested April 12 after he made eye contact with officers and ran away, police said. Officers held him down, handcuffed him and loaded him into a police van. While inside, he became irate and leg cuffs were put on him, police have said.
Gray was not buckled in by a seat belt, a violation of the police department’s policy.
He asked for medical help several times, and after a 30-minute ride, paramedics were called. At some point — either during his arrest or inside the van — he suffered a mysterious spinal injury. Authorities have not explained how or when it occurred. Six officers have been suspended with pay during the investigation.
“I still want to know why none of the officers called for immediate medical assistance despite Mr Gray’s apparent pleas,” the mayor said.
Asked if Gray’s possible “rough ride” is a one-off, she said: “It’s clearly not a one-off. The reason we have the policy around seat belts in the police vans is because of an incident that happened previously,” referring to Dondi Johnson. He died of a fractured spine in 2005 after he was arrested for urinating in public and transported without a seat belt, with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Meanwhile, an investigation into Gray’s death is still trying to figure out what happened, police said yesterday.
Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said police would release surveillance camera photos involving the death of Gray.
“We’re getting closer and the picture is getting sharper and sharper as we move forward,” Batts told journalists, adding that “multiple gaps” remained.
Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said police would release surveillance camera photos involving the death of Gray.