Lead police detective testifies in Freddie Gray trial

A small and peaceful group of demonstrators gather to protest in front of the Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse East where pre-trial hearings will be held for six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray September 2, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Brandon Ross, a longtime friend of Gray’s, shot one of two cell phone videos of the arrest played in court. As the group turned a corner, Ross said, he said Gray bolted around the corner.

Defense lawyers for Officer William G. Porter sought Thursday to shift blame for the death of Freddie Gray to another officer – the driver of the van in which Gray injured his spine – as they painted a portrait of a bumbling city police department with outmoded systems and a lax attitude about adhering to its own rules. He could be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Bilheimer testified that it is a general police order that officers are taught to secure those in custody unless there is a safety issue. Moore’s video showed Gray being dragged to the police van after he was arrested.

Gray’s mother, Gloria Darden, ran crying from the courtroom as the video was shown, that led toa brief recess in the trial.

Prosecutors have argued that Gray was probably injured when he fell in the back of the van.

Porter is charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment in connection with Gray’s death. But the officer did not call an ambulance because Gray wasn’t exhibiting any signs of real injury or distress. “That ain’t cool, man”, he could be heard saying on the video. Ross was with him on the morning of his arrest and was among the eight witness called by the state on Thursday.

Officer John Bilheimer, who was an instructor at the Baltimore Police Academy, testified that he taught Porter procedures for using emergency vehicles and transporting arrestees in 2012. When asked by Proctor if he would believe that a security camera image showed him speaking peacefully to Porter, Ross replied, “I can’t believe what you say”.

Porter, who has pleaded not guilty, is the first officer to go to trial.

In his opening statement Wednesday, Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow told jurors they will see evidence that Officer William Porter was properly trained but was negligent, and that negligence contributed to Gray’s death.

The prosecutor said Gray’s neck was broken between the second and fourth stops and that such an injury would have impacted his ability to breathe.

Judge Barry Williams had told jurors this case will wrap up by December 17.

Capt. Martin Barnes, a veteran of 18 years with the Baltimore Police Department and former supervisor of professional standards and accountability, testified that new department policies were published on April 3, including an order now requiring seat belts on those being transported in the police vans. He conceded on cross-examination, however, that there is no way to tell if Porter read the email on the updated seat belt policy.

After the break, Ross demonstrated for the jury the way Gray was put into the van, at one point testifying it looked like officers had him “hogtied”. It was that driver, Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., who faces a second-degree murder charge in Gray’s death. Bilheimer testified he instructed Porter on protocol related to department vehicles and transporting individuals.