The Latest: Commissioner: Truth Will Come Out In Gray Case

Protesters stand on cars near the intersection of North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Friday, May 1, 2015, the day of the announcement of charges against the police officers involved in Freddie Gray's arrest. State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced the stiffest charge, second-degree "depraved heart" murder, against the driver of the police van that Gray was in after his arrest. Other officers faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault and illegal arrest. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Protesters stand on cars near the intersection of North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Friday, May 1, 2015, the day of the announcement of charges against the police officers involved in Freddie Gray's arrest. State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced the stiffest charge, second-degree "depraved heart" murder, against the driver of the police van that Gray was in after his arrest. Other officers faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault and illegal arrest. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

8:15 p.m.

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts held a short news conference Saturday evening on the case of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who was injured while in police custody.

Batts said, "Peace and calm is always better than violence. My hope is that we work toward a new level of partnership in all parts of our community. As we move forward, it is important that we do not lose sight of what brought us here. Many families remain in pain tonight: the Gray family, the family of all the officers involved, families across Baltimore. ...The case is in the hands of the state's attorney. ... the truth will come out. The truth will overcome."

On the charges against the police officers Batts said, "I think, like the state attorney says, this not an indictment on all the police officers within the organization."

He added, "I cannot have a tolerance for any misconduct at any time."

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8:00 p.m.

Some people renewed calls Saturday to end a 10 p.m. curfew in the city, established after lootings and unrest Monday. The curfew is currently set to be in place through Sunday night.

The Peoples Power Assembly raised the issue Friday and again Saturday, saying the curfew needed to end and the National Guard should leave the city.

Some restaurant and bar owners have also chafed against the restrictions, particularly in light of Saturday's scheduled pay-per-view boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which would have been a draw for some establishments. The fight is set for midnight Saturday, Eastern time.

Malik Shabazz, the president of Black Lawyers for Justice and one of the organizers of a Saturday march to City Hall that drew hundreds, called on officials to lift the curfew Saturday night.

Shabazz said, "Nobody out here is going to go out here and start any violence because they're waiting on the trial. They have gotten some justice. This curfew is oppressive. This curfew needs to be lifted tonight."

While the city has been largely peaceful since the curfew was established, there have been arrests of demonstrators, including Friday night at City Hall and in the Penn North neighborhood near where Freddie Gray was arrested.

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6:30 p.m.

More than 1,000 marchers arrived a little before 6 p.m. Saturday at the corner of North and Pennsylvania avenues, the scene of Monday's looting and rioting after the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after being seriously injured while in police custody last month.

A few dozen protesters climbed onto the roof of a nearby subway station. A police helicopter flying overhead ordered protesters down, and they complied after a group of officers walked over.

Saturday night's Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was on the minds of a few marchers. One protester walked through the crowd wearing boxing gloves, while another carried a sign: "THIS is the fight of the century."

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2:40 p.m.

Maryland's governor is urging participants in Saturday's protests in Baltimore to keep demonstrations peaceful and nonviolent.

The city has been shaken by protests - including some that turned violent - since the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray last month. Gray died after being injured while in police custody.

Gov. Larry Hogan says he hopes to see the continuation of the four days of calm in the city that followed Monday's violence.

Hogan said in a statement that the "right to demonstrate is a fundamental part of our society, but damaging property or putting innocent bystanders in danger will not be tolerated."

Hogan thanked the Maryland National Guard, the Maryland State Police and local police from outside Baltimore for helping to keep the peace.

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1 p.m.

The six Baltimore police officers charged in Freddie Gray's death are scheduled to appear in court at the end of the month.

Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White, and officers Caesar Goodson, Garrett Miller, Edward Nero and William Porter have a preliminary hearing together on May 27 in Baltimore District Court, according to online court records.

If the judge finds there is probable cause to support the charges, the case will move to circuit court to begin preparations for trial.

Defendants can, and often do, waive preliminary hearings and the case is transferred to circuit court. Also, a prosecutor can seek an indictment from a grand jury, which would make a preliminary hearing unnecessary.

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12:30 p.m.

Demonstrators hold a moment of silence at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues in Baltimore for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after being seriously injured while in police custody last month.

The moment of silence comes as Baltimore braces for a mass demonstration and rally in memory of Gray.

Six police officers were charged Friday with felonies ranging from assault to murder in Gray's death. In announcing the charges, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said police had no reason to stop or chase Gray in the first place when they confronted him on April 12. He died of injuries on April 19.

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11:45 a.m.

Heavily armed police and National Guard troops are making a show of force at key intersections and government buildings in Baltimore in preparation for Saturday's mass protest marches.

Barricades have been erected to block vehicle traffic from the blocks around City Hall, the destination of the largest planned march. Armored military vehicles were parked at the checkpoints, and there were large numbers of police and troops donning body armor, many carrying assault rifles.

The marches were called earlier this week to protest the death of Freddie Gray, a black man injured while in police custody April 12. But after the arrest of six Baltimore police officers in the case on Friday, the mood of Saturday's marches are expected to be more celebratory than tense.

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Midnight

Police spokesman Sgt. Jarron Jackson says there were 38 protest-related arrests and 15 curfew-violation arrests Friday night. Demonstrators took to the streets Friday to celebrate the announcement that six police officers were being charged in the death of Freddie Gray, who died of a spinal injury received while in police custody earlier this month.

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11:30 p.m.

A group of about 15 protesters marched through the downtown streets chanting "No justice, no peace" - to nobody in particular.

Police vans and armored National Guard vehicles drove by the group, but took no action, despite the protesters' clear defiance of a 10 p.m. curfew.

Just after 11:30 p.m., the group was debating what to do next, and then four or five ran to catch a bus as soon as they saw one.

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10:45 p.m.

A line of National Guard troops and tanks is at Baltimore City Hall, along with a large crowd of members of the media and a line of police wearing helmets and carrying body shields.

Mounted police are also guarding the area and police vans are on the scene.

There did not appear to be any protesters left, other than a handful being interviewed by reporters about what they saw when officers moved in after 10 p.m. Friday and arrested a few people while others scattered and dispersed.

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10:30 p.m.

Live television coverage of the remains of a protest at City Hall just after the 10 p.m. curfew went into effect showed a line of police, carrying shields, move in and take several people away.

In a series of tweets, Baltimore police said the protesters remained at War Memorial Plaza "in violation of the curfew," had been warned and that officers were arresting protesters who refused to leave.

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10:10 p.m.

A more jubilant crowd was gathered at the Pennsylvania and North avenues intersection in West Baltimore as the 10 p.m. curfew approached.

More than 100 people were dancing in the streets Friday night and chanting "Freddie" to celebrate charges against six officers in connection with Freddie Gray's death.

Meanwhile, a helicopter was hovering overhead and warning people that they were subject to arrest while people danced atop a truck in the middle of the intersection.

Pleas from police to reporters to confine themselves to a special media pen were largely ignored.

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9:20 p.m.

Court records indicate that the six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray have been released on bonds of between $250,000 and $350,000.

The six had turned themselves in at the city jail Friday afternoon after the city's chief prosecutor announced the charges against them.

State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.

An attorney speaking on behalf of the officers says the charges are a rush to judgment.

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8:45 p.m.

Court records indicate that all six Baltimore police officers charged in Freddie Gray's death have posted bond, and five have been released. The sixth officer, Sgt. Alicia White, had not yet been released.

One officer faces a second-degree murder charge. The other officers face manslaughter or assault charges, among others.

Gray died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.

---

8 p.m.

A rally weaving its way through Baltimore may eclipse all the other protest marches this week.

More than 1,000 people began at the Inner Harbor tourist district and made their way to the city jail to seek amnesty for protesters previously arrested.

From there, the marchers wound through city streets to the site of Monday's rioting, then through the neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested and at last count was making its way to western district police headquarters.

The group seemed to make its mind as it went, sometimes switching direction and backing up when a majority took a new turn.

Protesters marched at least two hours nonstop and more than 7 miles, stretching multiple blocks.

Nearly universally, people stuck in traffic beeped horns and waved support to marchers, celebrating charges against six officers in connection with Gray's death.

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7:40 p.m.

Online court records list the race of three of the officers charged in the Freddie Gray case as black and list the three others in the broad category of "white, Caucasian, Asiatic Indian, Arab" without specifying.

Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., Officer William G. Porter and Sgt. Alicia D. White are listed as black. Lt. Brian W. Rice, Officer Garrett E. Miller and Officer Edward M. Nero are listed in the other category.

Goodson is the driver of the vehicle that transported Gray and faces the most serious charges. He allegedly repeatedly failed to secure Gray using a seat belt as required by police, Baltimore's top prosecutor said Friday, adding that Gray suffered a severe neck injury while handcuffed, shackled and unsecured in the van.

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7:30 p.m.

On the day that six police officers were charged in the death of Freddie Gray after his arrest, one east Baltimore police sergeant has warned superiors that "it is about to get ugly."

Sgt. Lennardo Bailey wrote in a letter to command staff in the city's eastern district that officers are being challenged on the street. In the letter obtained by The Associated Press, Bailey says he was challenged to a fight on three of five calls he responded to Friday. The letter was first reported by the website Buzzfeed.

"Some of them I blew off, but one of them almost got ugly," he said.

Police officials declined to comment and Bailey could not be reached for comment.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 President Gene Ryan declined to comment on the report but says the decision to charge the officers will make their job harder. Ryan promised officers that the organization would continue working diligently to ensure they have support to complete their missions safely.

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6:10 p.m.

Baltimore court records show the six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray have had their initial bail review.

Bail was set at $350,000 for three officers and $250,000 for the other three. One of the officers faces a second-degree murder charge and four face involuntary manslaughter charges. The most severe charge for the other two is assault.

The bail proceedings are not open to the public under Maryland law.

The records do not indicate that the officers have yet posted bail.

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5:10 p.m.

The stepfather of Freddie Gray says the family is satisfied with prosecutors charging six police officers involved in Gray's arrest.

Richard Shipley said at a news conference Friday that the charges were the first step in getting justice for Gray, who prosecutors say died after suffering a critical spine injury in the back of a police wagon.

An attorney for the Gray family says people must be mindful that the charges are a first step, not the last.

State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.

An attorney speaking on behalf of the officers says the charges are a rush to judgment.

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4:30 p.m.

The head of a group that is holding a march Saturday says it will now be a "victory rally" after a prosecutor charged six officers in the death of Freddie Gray.

Malik Shabazz, president of Black Lawyers for Justice, said he was pleasantly surprised by the charges and commended State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby "for standing up for justice and setting a standard for prosecutors all over the nation."

"We usually face injustice," he said.

Shabazz has helped organize rallies after Gray suffered a critical injury while in police custody. He hopes thousands show up for his rally Saturday.

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4 p.m.

The Baltimore police officers' union says the state's attorney has made a rush to judgment by bringing charges against six officers in the death of Freddie Gray.

Attorney Michael Davey, whose firm was hired by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, says he is representing one of the officers, but is speaking on behalf of all of them.

Davey says he has never seen such a hurried rush to file charges and the officers did nothing wrong.

Earlier Friday, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Gray's arrest was illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.

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3:50 p.m.

Demonstrators with the Baltimore United Coalition have arrived at City Hall after a peaceful march.

Marcher Dennis Farley says he's in Baltimore from Washington for the demonstration today.

"We're here to show our love and respect for justice in the world," he says.

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3:30 p.m.

A public safety department spokesman says all six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray have turned themselves in and are inside the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.

One officer faces a second-degree murder charge while the other officers face manslaughter or assault charges, among others.

Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.

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1:30 p.m.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says five of six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are in custody.

Rawlings-Blake made the announcement Friday afternoon, hours after the city's chief prosecutor said they were charged.

"No one is above the law in our city," Rawlings-Blake said. "Justice must apply to all of us equally."

She also says she was sickened and heartbroken about the situation.

"There will be justice for Mr. Gray," she said.

Gray died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody. His death sparked outrage and protests in Baltimore and elsewhere

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12:45 p.m.

The sheriff's office says it expects the six police officers charged in Freddie Gray's death to turn themselves in at the Baltimore jail hours after charges were announced.

Maj. Samuel Cogen with the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office said Friday that his agency was processing arrest warrants for the six police officers. The city's chief prosecutor announced the charges earlier Friday.

Gray died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody. His death sparked outrage and protests in Baltimore and elsewhere.

Cogen says the officers are expected to surrender themselves later Friday at the city's jail.

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12:30 p.m.

President Barack Obama says it's "absolutely vital" that the truth about what happened to Freddie Gray comes out.

Obama commented Friday shortly after Baltimore's top prosecutor announced criminal charges against the six police officers who were suspected after the 25-year-old Baltimore man suffered a fatal spinal injury in police custody. His death angered the community and led to violent protests, including looting and fires, after his funeral earlier this week.

Obama says justice needs to be served and all the evidence needs to be presented. He says the individuals facing charges are entitled to due process.

"It is my practice not to comment on the legal process that's involved ... but I can tell you that justice needs to be served," Obama said. "All the evidence needs to be presented. Those individuals who are charged obviously are also entitled to due process and rule of law. So I want to make sure that our legal system runs the way it should."

He says that what the people of Baltimore want most is the truth.

May 2, 8:22 PM EDTAP

 
 

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