Protesters vow to ‘shut down’ Baltimore

Demonstrators demand answers on death of man held in police custody

BALTIMORE— After a week of protests, people angry over the unexplained death of an African-American man in police custody promised their biggest march Saturday, when they would try to “shut down” the city.

Freddie Gray’s arrest and death from a mysterious spinal injury have sparked marches and rallies by demonstrators who say police mistreat African-Americans in Baltimore and across America.

A fierce national debate has been stoked by the deaths of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City.

The mayor of Baltimore 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 Friday. “But it’s important to remember that we have an equally long history of peaceful and legal protest.”

Grey 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.

Grey was not buckled with 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 spinal injury. Authorities have not explained how or when it occurred. Six officers have been suspended with pay during the investigation.

Gray was in the hospital for a week. He died Sunday.

“I still want to know why none of the officers called for immediate medical assistance despite Mr. Gray’s apparent pleas,” the mayor said.

The leader of a group of local ministers called Friday on police commissioner Anthony Batts to resign immediately.

“It seems that no one in the police department can explain what happened,” said the Rev. Alvin Gwynn Sr., president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore.

He said the police department is “in disarray” and Batts has shown a “lack of viable leadership capabilities.”