BALTIMORE _ Prosecutors in Baltimore have failed for the fourth time to secure a conviction in the Freddie Gray case, with Circuit Judge Barry Williams acquitting Lt. Brian Rice of all charges related to Gray's arrest and death.
Williams cleared Rice, 42, of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in a downtown Baltimore courtroom on Monday morning. The judge had dismissed a second-degree assault charge at the trial's midpoint, and prosecutors dropped a second misconduct charge at the start.
Rice selected a bench trial rather than a jury trial, putting his legal fate in Williams' hands. He was was fourth of six officers charged in the case to go to trial.
Williams previously acquitted two other officers _ Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson Jr. _ of all charges in May and June, respectively. A fourth officer, William Porter, had a mistrial in December after a 12-member jury could not reach a consensus on any of the charges against him.
Rice's acquittal is likely to renew calls for Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby to drop the remaining charges in the case, including from the union that represents the city's rank-and-file officers.
Officer Garrett Miller is scheduled to go to trial next, on July 27. Porter is scheduled to be retried on Sept. 6. And Sgt. Alicia White, is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 13. All of the officers have pleaded not guilty.
After the acquittal of Goodson, the driver of the van in which Gray sustained a fatal injury, Lt. Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, said that it was "time to put this sad chapter behind us." He said ongoing prosecution of the cases would hinder the ability of police in Baltimore to do their jobs.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case are barred by a gag order from commenting. Williams also does not comment on cases outside court.
Prosecutors alleged Rice, the highest-ranking officer of the six charged, had caused Gray's death by failing to secure him in a seat belt in the back of the police transport van in which he suffered severe spinal cord injuries last year. Gray, 25, died a week after his arrest. His death sparked widespread protests against police brutality.
Deputy State's Attorney Janice Bledsoe, during closing arguments in the case, said Gray's death "cannot be blamed on poor judgment or error," and that Rice's intentional actions "put together formed a chain" of events that caused Gray's death.
Rice's defense attorneys said his actions were reasonable given the volatility of the scene at the time, Gray's combativeness and the danger associated with placing a detainee in a seat belt in the close quarters of the van's rear compartment.
"Everything about it was professional, correct," said Michael Belsky, Rice's attorney.
In order to convict Rice of involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors had to prove that he acted in a grossly negligent manner and was aware of the risks to Gray but disregarded them. For reckless endangerment, they had to prove that Rice was aware of the risks and acted unreasonably. For misconduct, they had to prove he corruptly failed to carry out an act required of him.
Williams had seemed skeptical of the basis of the charges during closing arguments Thursday, asking Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow whether the prosecution believed that the failure to seat belt Gray was in itself a crime.
"The simple fact he didn't do it means he's guilty of these crimes?" Williams asked.
Schatzow said it did, based on the circumstances. Belsky said the prosecution's theory, if upheld by the judge, would set a "very dangerous precedent."
On Monday, Williams said prosecutors had not met their burden of proving Rice's guilt.
Like in Nero and Goodson's trials, Williams delivered his ruling by reading from prepared remarks from the bench. He took the charges one by one, outlining the elements required for each and his reasoning for finding Rice not guilty.
