WATCH: Protests were replaced by celebrations and cries of justice in Baltimore as the State’s Attorney announced six police officers were charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray. As Aarti Pole reports, it’s what so many on the streets had been waiting to hear.
All six officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray have been arrested mere hours after the Maryland state attorney said his death was a homicide and there is probable cause to lay criminal charges.
State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby made the remarks outside of Baltimore city hall as crowds cheered at the news.
“The findings of our comprehensive, thorough, and independent investigation, coupled with the medical examiner’s determination that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide, which we received, has led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges.”
WATCH: State Attorney claims Freddie Gray arrested illegally, details injury
Six officers involved in the April 12 arrest of Freddie Gray have been charged with a number of charges including murder.
READ MORE: A timeline of Freddie Gray’s “illegal” arrest
Officer Caesar Goodson, the driver of the police van, has been charged with the most serious offences including second-degree “depraved-heart” murder, involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office, and failure to secure a prisoner in addition to other offences.
WATCH: Michael Davey, the lawyer representing the Baltimore officers said they are confident they will all be vindicated because they did nothing wrong.
Officer William Porter and Lt. Brian Rice have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Officer Edward Nero and Officer Garrett Miller have both been charged with assault. And Sgt. Alicia White has been charged with manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office.
READ MORE: Who are the Baltimore cops charged in Freddie Gray’s death?
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said she was sickened by the details of the officers indictment and has ordered police commissioner Anthony Batts to suspend those involved.
“No one in our city is above the law. Justice must apply to all of us equally,” she said.
“We know that the vast majority of the men and the women in the Baltimore Police Department serve our city with pride, with courage, with honour and with distinction. But to those of you who wish to engage in brutality, misconduct, racism and corruption, let me be clear, there is no place in the Baltimore Police Department for you.”
WATCH: Mosby lists all the charges police will face in Freddie Gray death
The charges came after two investigations into the death of Gray – one by the Baltimore Police Department and another by the state attorney’s office.
But Michael Davey, the attorney for the police union, said the protests and subsequent media attention led prosecutors to rush to judgement. He went on to say that none of the officers injured Gray.
“These officers did nothing wrong,” Davey said. “The officers lack of wrongdoing will be made abundantly clear.”
Mosby explained that Gray was improperly arrested on April 12 after he “made eye contact” with Lt. Rice while he was on bike patrol with Miller and Nero.
Gray began running and was chased by the three officers for a short time before surrendering to arrest.
“Mr. Gray was then placed in a prone position with his arms handcuffed behind his back, it was at this time that Mr. Gray could not breathe and requested an inhaler to no avail,” she said.
The officers sat him up and found a legal knife in his pocket. He was then put back onto his stomach when “he began to flail,” Mosby said, and was held down by one of the officers while they waited for the van, arresting him without establishing probable cause.
“As no crime had been committed by Mr .Gray,” Mosby said. “Accordingly, Lt. Rice, Officer Miller and Officer Nero illegally arrested Mr. Gray.”
He was left unrestrained in the back of a police wagon as it drove through Baltimore, making four stops before its final stop at the Baltimore police division.
WATCH: Residents begin dancing in the streets of Baltimore after warrants issued
The second time the van stopped, Mosby said, Gray was taken out and put in wrist and leg shackles before being placed on his stomach, on the floor of the van.
“Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet, and being unrestrained inside the BPD wagon,” she said.
Gray died in hospital a week later after a significant spinal injury, sparking riots and protests across Baltimore during which more than 200 people were arrested, and at least 15 officers hurt.
During her press conference Friday morning, Mosby called on the protesters to remain peaceful in light of the riots which erupted Monday.
“To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America, I heard your call for ‘no justice, no peace.’ Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man,” she said.
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