Prosecutors decided to drop all charges filed against remaining police officers in relation to the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray on Wednesday morning, according to the Baltimore Sun. The decision from prosecutors to drop the charges against Officers Garrett Miller, William Porter, and Alicia White means the prosecution will not land any convictions against the officers charged with Gray's death.
The decision comes after Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams acquitted Edward Nero, Caesar Goodson, and Lieutenant Brian Rice, the three other officers who faced trial for charges related to Gray's death over the last three months. Judge Williams was set to preside over the bench trials of Miller, Porter, and White in the coming months as well. Porter already faced a jury trial, which resulted in a hung jury.
The decision to drop the charges was entered on Wednesday morning during a court session which was meant to commence Miller's trial. But instead of delivering opening statements, Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow told Judge Williams that charges against Miller and the other two officers would be dropped, the Baltimore Sun reports. Porter and White were scheduled to begin their trials once Miller's trial ended.
Baltimore citizens and people across the country are expressing outrage and dismay regarding the decision to drop the remaining charges:
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The Baltimore Sun reports that Miller's attorney Catherine Flynn told the press on Wednesday morning that "all of our clients are thrilled with what happened today, and we'll be making a comment later to address the details of what happened."
Baltimore city attorney Marilyn Mosby delivered a statement Wednesday morning at the site of Gray's arrest, NPR reported. Frustrated, Mosby said that her office still feels the original charges against the officers were legitimate, and pointed to systemic problems within the criminal justice system saying, "Without real substantive reforms to the criminal justice system, we could try this case a hundred times, and cases just like it, and still end up with the same result."
Freddie Gray died after sustaining severe head and spinal injuries in a police van in April 2015, and his death while in police custody prompted days of protests and outcry in Baltimore.
