A Baltimore judge has acquitted the highest-ranking police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died of a spinal-cord injury in the back seat of a police van in 2015.
Judge Barry Williams’ ruling Monday made Lt. Brian Rice, 42, the third officer acquitted for Gray’s death; the trial of a fourth officer ended in a mistrial last year. Rice’s trial closely resembled the previous ones, sharing many of the same key witnesses.
Rice’s acquittal amounts to a major setback for the prosecution, which is planning to try two other police officers over Gray’s death.
In this latest case, prosecutors had charged Rice with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office; just days before Gray’s death, the Baltimore Police Department had changed its policy to mandate officers seatbelt all those they arrest.
“The failure to seat belt is the basis of the crime,” argued prosecutor Michael Schatzow.
But Rice’s defense successfully argued that Gray’s “belligerent” behavior, as well as the growing crowd of “angry” and “hostile” onlookers witnessing the arrest, reasonably prevented the officer from securing the seatbelt.
Judge Williams said Monday that prosecution had failed to prove Rice had acted in a grossly negligent or corrupt manner. Williams added that the court “cannot be swayed by sympathy, prejudice or public opinion.”
Rice will still face a departmental administrative review.
