Judge declares mistrial in Freddie Gray police case, raising concerns of more

Prosecutors attempted to prove Porter abused his power by failing to save Gray’s life.

Gene Ryan is the president the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3.

At a news conference Wednesday, Rawlings-Blake sait it was important for people to respect the jury’s decision.

Porter remains suspended without pay. A mistrial allows for Porter to be retried. But if there is a pending case against Officer Porter during another officer’s trial, prosecutors would most likely be unable to call him to the stand.

The defence called Mr Gray’s death a “horrific tragedy”, but said “there is literally no evidence” that Porter was to blame. Attorney Janice Bledsoe said Porter had at least four opportunities to help Gray but did not.

RICHARD SHIPLEY, Freddie Gray’s Stepfather: We want to thank this hardworking jury for their service to the public, their quest for justice, and their personal sacrifice for their time and effort. “We are calm; you should be calm, too”, he said. She asked communities and people who make up Baltimore to show one another respect.

The second trial, that of Officer Caesar Goodson, is scheduled to begin January 6.

Officials appealed for calm as small crowds protested along streets lined with police officers. Prior to the arrest, WUSA’s Ellison Barber reports that law enforcement had declared the demonstration unlawful. Each charge required a unanimous verdict.

Mr Porter’s lawyers contend that he acted as a “reasonable officer”, and that he could not have prevented Gray’s injuries. He waived his right to appear at a hearing Thursday to discuss a possible retrial.

Porter took the witness stand on December 9 and informed the jury of seven women and five men that he has never discharged his firearm, or used mace or a taser while on duty.

Jurors deliberated over the course of three days for a total of 16 hours. Jury members sent the judge a note at about 3:30 p.m. notifying him that they could not reach a decision. The Justice Department has since launched a civil-rights investigation of the city’s police department, and the city’s already-high homicide rate has soared in the months since Gray died.

A state of emergency has been declared in Baltimore after riots erupted in the U.S. city. He did not say how the jury was stymied.

Duane “Shorty” Davis, a local activist, said he thought the state’s attorney put on a “weak case”.

“I had things that annoyed me, like litter”, Porter said.

Porter was charged with manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in Gray’s death.

Prosecutors argued that Porter, who was present at five of the van’s six stops, was criminally negligent for ignoring his department’s policy requiring officers to seatbelt prisoners, and for not calling an ambulance even though Gray repeatedly said he needed medical help. Investigators said Gray, whose arms and legs were shackled, couldn’t brace himself when the van made a sudden movement, fell and hit his head. That didn’t happen in the Gray case.