Baltimore Riot Fuel: Man With History Of Being Beaten By Cops Runs And Gets Killed (Video, Picture) NSFWV

Freddie Gray

Mon 27 Apr 2015 by abagond

Freddie Gray (1989?-2015) was a Black American man killed by police in Baltimore, Maryland. In West Baltimore, in fact, the very Black neighbourhood shown in “The Wire” (2002-2008). While the police investigate themselves, six police officers are on paid leave:

• Lt. Brian Rice,
• Sgt. Alicia White,
• Officer William Porter,
• Officer Garrett Miller,
• Officer Edward Nero and
• Officer Caesar Goodson Jr

On the morning of April 12th, the police looked at Gray and he ran. A friend says Gray has a history of being beat up by police. The police went after him, on bicycles and on foot. They arrested him for running from police. Not a crime.

The police say that Gray had knife, a spring-loaded switchblade, which they say is against the law. They did not know about the knife till they searched him.

Police say they arrested Gray “without force or incident.” Yet when they arrived at the police station 30 minutes later, after taking a round-about way, he was in “serious medical distress” – meaning he could no longer talk or breathe.

Meaning his voicebox was crushed and his spine broken in three places.

He slipped into a coma and died of spinal injuries a week later, on April 19th.

What witnesses said:

“They were taking their black batons, whatever they are, and hitting him.”

“They had him folded up like he was a crab or a piece of origami. He was all bent up.”

“Police were telling everyone to leave because they didn’t want anyone taping. They got real smart and nasty.”

One witness said an officer came down on Gray’s neck with his knee.

Gray was screaming in pain. Onlookers said, “Call the ambulance!”, “Call the paramedics!” Something the police did not do for another 30 minutes.

In one citizen video Gray’s legs do not seem to work. The police said it was an act.

Not yet made public:

• video from a police camera that overlooks the scene.
• audio from what the police told dispatchers.

Protests: Growing protests have followed Gray’s death. On Saturday April 25th, police and protesters faced off in the centre of Baltimore for all the world to see. Some protesters broke windows of shops and police cars.

• The (Black) mayor was “profoundly disappointed” – at the protesters, not the police.
• The (White) president of the police union was “offended”. He compared the protests to a “lynching”, saying that police officers have constitutional rights, like the right to due process. And not being arrested unfairly.

On Monday April 27th, the governor called out the National Guard.

Police brutality in Baltimore:

• Since 2011, the Baltimore police department has paid $5.7 million to settle over 100 lawsuits dealing with police brutality and other misconduct.
• Just last year they beat Tyrone West to death after a routine traffic stop.

Investigations:

• The police will turn over their findings in the Gray case to the state this Friday (May 1st).
• The state can then carry out its own investigation.
• The US Justice Department is looking into whether Gray’s civil rights were violated. They did the same for Michael Brown and found nothing.

– Abagond, 2015.

MOREHERE