Baltimore Mayor Calling For Peace After Mistrial Declared

Maryland Judge Barry Williams, who is presiding over the case, declared mistrial in the case of Officer William Porter, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Gray’s death. If that were to happen in the case of Officer Porter, legal observers say it could affect the prosecution of at least some of the other five officers charged in the death of Mr. Gray.

“No one should be upset… there’s going to be another trial of Officer Porter, and there will be another jury and we will await the verdict of that jury”, he said. Williams declared a mistrial. “We will protect our residents, we will protect our neighborhoods, our businesses, and we will protect the safety of our first responders”. Time will tell if a third day of deliberations will bring a change.

The first trial in the police-custody death of a black Baltimore resident named Freddie Gray ended in a mistrial on Wednesday. Before dismissing them, he said, “You have clearly been diligent”.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said police are out on the streets to serve as peacekeepers.

Porter, who was a backup officer, testified Gray told him he needed medical aid. He said the family hopes prosecutors will retry Mr. Porter “as soon as possible”, and that the next jury will reach a verdict.

Shortly after the jury let out, protesters began to gather outside Courthouse East. The final outcome of the case could reignite riots like those in April, and will likely be the biggest ruling since Ferguson officer Darren Wilson was cleared of all charges. “As a community, as a city, we are stronger, and we are united to be better than what some displayed to the world last spring”.

Courtesy photo of Freddie Gray.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called for calm, as night closed in on Baltimore, a city of 620,000 that has among the highest murder rates in the United States. Porter faces “second-degree assault, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges”, according to ABC News.

Porter conceded that Gray asked for medical help during the fourth stop but said he did not call a medic because Gray didn’t appear to be injured and didn’t articulate what was wrong. The driver, Officer Caesar Goodson, is scheduled for trial on January 6.

He was put in a transport van, shackled and handcuffed, but was not secured by a seat belt despite department policy to do so. Homicides soared after Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged six officers in Gray’s death, and the pressure on her and other city officials has been unrelenting since then. He says he told the driver and a supervisor Gray wanted to go to a hospital.

Police arrest a protester outside Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse after the hung-jury was announce …

In June, a SC jury couldn’t reach a verdict in the retrial of former Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs, who is white.

After the jury indicates it has a note, it typically takes 10 to 20 minutes for lawyers and the defendant to assemble in the courtroom.

Testimony in the trial began December 2.