On June 23, Caesar Goodson was acquitted of all charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray. The most serious charges including 2nd degree murder were facing Goodson, along with manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. The trial and verdict were watched in the U.S. and abroad as the issue of police brutality took center stage. Immediately following the verdict, I spoke from the Baltimore Court house to Fox 5 DC. Here's the segment on Fox 5 DC: … [Read more...] about What Not Guilty for Baltimore Police Officer Means
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Baltimore Police Officer Goodson Trial Recap before Verdict
Officer Caesar Goodson’s trial transcends beyond Baltimore in exposing difficulties in proving police brutality cases when relying on police to investigate other officers. Closing arguments begin on Monday, June 20, in the trial of Caesar Goodson, the van driver and third Baltimore officer, to go to trial for the death of Freddie Gray. Goodson’s trial exposed the heart of the problems with proving these officers guilty of the various crimes for which they are charged in Gray’s death. And Goodson’s trial transcends beyond Baltimore in exposing difficulties in proving police brutality cases when relying on police to investigate other officers. Gray died on April 19, 2015 after being placed in police custody in a police van without a seat belt on April 12, 2015. The state alleges he was given a “rough ride” by van driver officer Goodson, which ultimately resulted in his spinal injuries and death, along with a failure to seat belt Gray, to avoid injury. Goodson faces the most serious … [Read more...] about Baltimore Police Officer Goodson Trial Recap before Verdict
Implications of Baltimore Police Officer’s Acquittal
On Monday, May 23, Baltimore police officer Edward Nero was found not guilty of all charges by Judge Barry Williams in the case involving the death of Freddie Gray. Before a packed court room, Judge Williams methodically read his opinion lasting almost 25 minutes detailing how he came to his conclusions. I was present in the court room as he read his reasoning for the decision. Williams, himself, a former Baltimore City prosecutor and litigator in the Department of Justice on police misconduct cases was well versed on the law--vis a vis the involvement of Edward Nero. The entire opinion is linked here. Many question whether the acquittal of Nero will have an effect on the remaining five officers whose trials are set between June and September. Some question if any of the other officers are likely to take a bench trial, now that they see how it turned out for Nero. On Monday, I appeared on PBS News Hour to discuss the implications of Nero's case as it pertains to the remaining … [Read more...] about Implications of Baltimore Police Officer’s Acquittal
Former Prosecutor’s Recap of Baltimore Officer Nero’s Trial
My former office, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office, concluded the prosecution side of the case against Edward Nero, one of the six police officers charged in the case of Freddie Gray. At this point, the state’s case has some holes that weren’t plugged. Although the defense began its case, the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt remains with the prosecution. It’s a high burden and appears like an uphill Mt. Everest climb in Nero’s case. Judge Williams will decide if an “unfortunate accident” occurred as the defense alleges or whether a crime was committed. Officer Nero was one of the three police officers on bicycle patrol who allegedly arrested Freddie Gray on April 12, 2015. Nero is charged with committing three crimes: assault on Freddie Gray due to a lack of probable cause to arrest Gray, reckless endangerment due to lack of a seat belt to restrain Gray and misconduct in office allegedly for violating police protocol. At the center of … [Read more...] about Former Prosecutor’s Recap of Baltimore Officer Nero’s Trial
Why Tamir Rice $6 Million Settlement is not Justice
Tamir Rice’s family received a $6 million settlement as did the families of Freddie Gray and Eric Garner for wrongs committed by the police resulting in their loved ones’ deaths. Money does not equal justice. In America, where a twelve year old African American child is gunned down for playing in a park near his home and no one is held accountable, indicted, charged or arrested, there is no justice. When a 26 year old African American man is taken into police custody in a police van and receives a spinal cord injury and dies, justice remains elusive as 6 Baltimore police remain free awaiting trials. And when an African American man is arrested by police on the streets of New York City who then yells “I can’t breathe” and dies in a police choke hold with no charges against the police officers, there is no justice. The word "justice" is often used but rarely defined in our culture. The legal symbol of justice is the statue of the blind folded woman holding the equally balanced … [Read more...] about Why Tamir Rice $6 Million Settlement is not Justice
Justice for Freddie Gray: One Year Later
In the one year since Freddie Gray sustained fatal injuries while in police custody, there has been no accountability for his death. Six police officers were charged in the death of Gray on May 1, 2015. The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office gears up for the next police officer trial of Edward Nero set for May 10. Whether Baltimore prosecutors will be able to convict any of the six officers still remains a mystery. The case of Freddie Gray and police misconduct is only one part of what the Freddie Gray case exposed about Baltimore. On April 12, 2015, Freddie Gray, age 25, was arrested on the streets of West Baltimore after running away from police officers. During his arrest transport in a police van, Gray, while unrestrained with a seat belt, sustained injuries to his spinal cord and died one week later. At the time, he arrived at Western District for processing; he had no pulse and was not breathing. On May 1, 2015, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged 6 police … [Read more...] about Justice for Freddie Gray: One Year Later