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Baltimore Police Driver Acquitted in Freddie Gray Murder Case

Cop also walks on manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges

| June 23, 2016 @ 8:40 AM Last Updated: June 23, 2016 @ 8:53 AM

The Baltimore police van driver who transferred Freddie Gray was acquitted on all charges related to the death of the 25-year-old, whose broken neck while in transit set off the city’s worst riots in decades.

Six officers were charged in Gray’s death, but only Officer Caesar Goodson, 46, was accused of murder. Goodson allegedly left Gray unprotected by a seatbelt that prosecutors say would have kept him from slamming into the van’s metal walls.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams delivered his verdict after hearing five days of testimony in the non-jury trial. He also found Goodson not guilty of manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Also Read: CNN Boss Jeff Zucker Apologizes for Controversial Freddie Gray Story (Exclusive)

Prosecutors claimed Goodson was criminally negligent when he failed to buckle Gray into the seatbelt or call for medical aid after Gray requested transfer to a hospital.

Goodson refused to talk to investigators or take the stand at trial, leaving the state with little evidence of intent to harm Gray. Last month, the same judge acquitted officer Edward Nero of misdemeanor charges, and in December he declared a mistrial after a jury failed to agree on manslaughter and other charges against officer William Porter.

State Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s continued efforts to hold police accountable for Gray’s death haven’t yet yielded a conviction, but Porter faces a retrial in September and three other officers have yet to be tried.

Also Read: Prince Unleashes Freddie Gray Protest Song 'Baltimore': Listen to It Here (Audio)

Gray was arrested Apr. 12, 2015 after running from an officer on bike patrol. A neighbor’s video showed him handcuffed behind his back and hoisted into Goodson’s van. Gray was unresponsive on arrival at the station house 45 minutes later.

The Scene in Baltimore Following Freddie Gray's Death (Photos)

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  • Caption:BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Gray, 25, who was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Homes housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Two cars burn in the middle of an intersection at New Shiloh Baptist Church on April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Riots have erupted in Baltimore following the funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 28: Protestors defy curfew in front of police officers the night after citywide riots over the death of Freddie Gray on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Freddie Gray, 25, was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Houses housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Getty Images
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Violent protests took over the city as thousands demonstrated after the 25-year-old man died in police custody on Apr. 19

Freddie Gray suffered catastrophic injuries after he was arrested on Apr. 12 for running from Baltimore police. He slipped into a coma and died on Apr. 19.

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