A Look at the Case Against the First Baltimore Officer to be Tried in Gray's Death (Nov. 5, 2015)

At the end of the month, the first of six Baltimore police officers charged with various crimes related to Freddie Gray’s death, will go to trial. Gray died a week after his April 12, 2015 arrest after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody. This is not a case of classic “police brutality.” No officer is charged with beating him and causing the injury; rather, the theory is based on omission–the failure to place a seatbelt on him and to render aid–among other allegations. William Porter’s trial is first; many believe he is the least culpable of the group. Read his indictment here. All the actions charged occurred between 8:30 a.m and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2015. Officers on patrol saw something that raised their suspicions in a high crime, high drug area. Freddie Gray broke…