Jury sees officer’s video statement in Freddie Gray trial

Porter faces charges that include manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct. Court resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET Friday in Baltimore.

Brandon Ross, a longtime friend of Gray’s, shot one of two cell phone videos of the arrest played in court.

Eight state witnesses testified, and more are expected to testify today. He said Thursday he saw Porter look inside the wagon before turning his back.

He told investigators he propped Gray up in a sitting position on a bench, but did not strap him in because he said the vehicles are not big enough to get in and “ask him nicely to sit up so you can buckle him”.

During the second video, a voice can be heard repeatedly shouting, “That ain’t cool, yo!”

“They tased the f*** out of him”, said a voice belonging to Moore.

After the videos were shown, Gray’s mother Gloria Darden, seated in the gallery, began sobbing loudly and was escorted out by a supporter, followed by other family members.

Allan said that she got word from doctors at Shock Trauma that Gray suffered cardiac arrest while in police custody in the van, and the doctors suspected a neck injury.

A Baltimore policeman charged with manslaughter in the death of a 25-year-old black man told investigators the man had asked for medical assistance while he was in a police van, according to a taped interview played at the officer’s trial on Friday. Williams also asked whether the defense and the state agreed that the van itself was not considered evidence.

The defense will likely argue that under police regulations only the driver of the transport van, Officer Caesar Goodson, who goes on trial next month, was responsible for Gray’s welfare. Gray, a 25-year-old West Baltimore native with a lengthy history of run-ins with the law, died after suffering fatal spinal injuries while in the hands of police in May.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams scheduled the viewing for early Thursday afternoon in the courthouse parking deck.

But in the recorded interview at police headquarters two days later, Porter said Gray did not appear to be having trouble breathing, though he did ask for help. Porter said an ambulance was called after he pulled Gray from the van and tried with another officer to revive him with a “sternum rub”, a technique meant to elicit a pain response.

Defense lawyers suggest Gray was injured from intentionally banging his head against the side of the compartment.

The testimony is important for prosecutors because Gray’s attorneys said during opening statements that Officer William Porter never heard Gray say he couldn’t breathe.

Capt. Martin Bartness said the updated orders replaced a previous policy from 1997.

“The arrestee is secured with seat and restraint belts provided”, Bilheimer read from the department policy, also noting that the department manual directs officers to call medics for people who are injured. The new order leaves no ambiguity.

Gray, who was arrested for fleeing from an officer and possessing a knife, died of a spinal injury that prosecutors have likened to what would be suffered by a diver going into a shallow pool.

Pointing to a poster-sized photo of the van with one of its rear doors open, prosecutor Michael Schatzow said: “The city paid extra to get those seat belts in that van, any one of which would have saved Mr. Gray’s life”.

In cross examination, Teel said she did not feel Porter was lying.

The police van then stopped at North Avenue and Pennsylvania Street to pick up another man who was in custody.

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