Grand jury indicts 6 cops in custody death

Black man’s fatal injury sparked rioting in Baltimore and protests across U.S.

BALTIMORE— A grand jury indicted all six officers charged in the case of an African-American whose death from injuries he suffered in police custody sparked rioting in Baltimore and protests across the United States. The indictment allows the city’s top prosecutor to press ahead with the most serious charges despite criticism that she was part of an “overzealous prosecution.” The indictments announced Thursday were very similar to the charges Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced about three weeks ago. The most serious charge for each officer, ranging from second-degree “depraved heart” murder to assault, still stood, though some of the other lesser alleged offences had changed.

Freddie Gray suffered a critical spinal injury after police handcuffed, shackled and placed him head-first into a van, Mosby has said. His pleas for medical attention were repeatedly ignored. Gray’s death spawned protests that gave way at least twice to violence, looting and arson; Baltimore’s mayor then implemented a curfew for all residents and Maryland’s governor declared a state of emergency.

Mosby said prosecutors presented evidence to the grand jury for the past two weeks. Some of the charges were changed based on new information, but she didn’t say what that was. She also did not take questions.

“As is often the case, during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based upon the evidence,” Mosby said.

In all, three of the officers had additional charges brought against them while three others had one less charge.

Attorneys for the officers have said in court documents they are the victims of an “overzealous prosecution” riddled with personal and political conflicts of interest. They said at a minimum, Mosby should be replaced with an independent prosecutor because she had a personal interest in calming unrest in the city that followed Gray’s death and because her husband is a city councilman.

Gray was arrested April 12. He died in a hospital a week later and became a symbol of what protesters say was police brutality against blacks.