Police driver absolved in Baltimore case

BALTIMORE — A disciplinary panel Tuesday unanimously found a Baltimore police van driver innocent of all administrative charges related to his role in transporting Freddie Gray, the black man whose fatal injury during the ride sparked riots in the city.

The three-member board found that officer Caesar Goodson, also a black man, did not violate any department policies outlined in 21 charges against him the day Gray was fatally injured in police custody.

“This is a vindication of this officer and what was done that day,” said Sean Malone, one of Goodson’s lawyers. “This is a tragic accident that happened, and we’re sorry for the loss of Mr. Gray, but we’re glad that our client is not going to be the face of this incident.”

Goodson has remained employed with the department and will keep his job on the force.

Department lawyer Neil Duke had argued that Goodson should have been fired for failing to follow policy by not buckling Gray into a seatbelt, failing to get him medical attention and lying about the chain of events following Gray’s arrest in April 2015.

Gray died a week later of a spinal cord injury he suffered during the van ride, prompting civil unrest among people expressing outrage at the treatment of blacks by police.

Goodson and two other officers were acquitted of criminal charges last year. Prosecutors then dropped charges against three other officers charged in the case.

AP/The Baltimore Sun/KEVIN RICHARDSON Baltimore police officer Caesar Goodson leaves court Tuesday after a three-member disciplinary panel found his role in transporting prisoner Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured while in police custody, did not violate department policies.