Cop Faces Murder Charge In Freddie Gray Death

A Baltimore police officer faces a second-degree murder charge over the death of Freddie Gray - the black man who suffered a fatal neck injury while in police custody.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that Mr Gray's death had been ruled a homicide and that six officers involved in his arrest will be charged.

Ms Mosby said an independent investigation found a pattern of negligence by the officers after Mr Gray was arrested and placed into a police van on 12 April.

She said: "The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr Gray's death was a homicide... we have probable cause to file criminal charges.

"Mr Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon."

She announced a charge of second-degree "depraved heart" murder had been filed against the driver of the police van, Officer Caesar Goodson.

He also faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second degree negligent assault, misconduct in office and failure to render aid.

"Depraved heart" is a legal term for an action that demonstrates a "callous disregard for human life" and results in death.

The other officers - William Porter, Edward Nero and Garrett Miller, Sergeant Alicia White and Lieutenant Brian Rice - face charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment.

Ms Mosby said a switchblade knife officers accused Mr Gray of illegally carrying clipped inside a trouser pocket was in fact legal, and not a justification for his arrest.

She added that Mr Gray asked for medical attention twice while being driven from the site of his arrest to a police booking centre and had suffered a critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed inside the van. He was no longer breathing when he was finally removed from the van.

The state medical examiner's officer has said it sent Mr Gray's autopsy report to prosecutors on Friday.

President Barack Obama said it was "absolutely vital that the truth comes out on what happened to Freddie Gray".

He added: "I think what the people of Baltimore want more than anything else is the truth. That's what people around the country expect. Justice needs to be served."

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said: "I was sickened and heartbroken by the statement of charges that we heard today. Because no one in our city is above the law, justice must apply to all of us equally."

Congressman Elijah Cummings, who represents the seventh district of Maryland, said: "I don't want anybody to be confused, that the issues of police and community are part of a broader set of issues.

"This is a great day and I think we need to realise that.

"Our children, they went out and protested, for the most part peacefully, but they had to protest in order to get here."

Gene Ryan, local president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told Ms Mosby in a letter before the charges were announced that none of the six officers - who are all currently on suspension - were responsible for Mr Gray's death.

Officer Goodson faces up to 30 years if found guilty of the murder charge.

The 25-year-old's death from a spinal cord injury on 19 April set off a string of protests that have spilled over into violence, with tensions between protesters and police continuing through Friday night.

Police spokesman Sgt Jarron Jackson said there were 38 protest-related arrests and 15 violations of a 10pm curfew on Friday night.

Demonstrations have spread to other major cities after the police killing of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York last year. Grand juries decided against charging officers who were involved in those deaths.