William Porter, one of six Baltimore city police officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.(Photo: AP)
Closing arguments began Monday in the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>first of six criminal trials for Baltimore<span style="color: Red;">*</span>police officers charged in the case of Freddie Gray, whose April death while in police custody<span style="color: Red;">*</span>triggered violent riots and cost the police chief his job.
Officer William Porter, 26, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault, misconduct and reckless endangerment. Porter did not participate in the April 12 arrest of Gray, but he is accused of breaching police department protocols by failing to buckle the shackled Gray into a seat belt of a police van<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and then failing to immediately seek medical assistance when Gray sought it.
Gray, 25, suffered a severe spinal injury while being transported after his arrest. He died a week later, setting off the protests that sometimes degenerated into<span style="color: Red;">*</span>rioting, looting and arson.
Porter, who like Gray is black, testified last week that he was in the van for most of the 45-minute ride between the site of Gray's arrest and the Western District police station. Porter said Gray did not appear injured and kicked and yelled for most of the journey. Porter added that Gray<span style="color: Red;">*</span>didn't ask for medical assistance<span style="color: Red;">*</span>but agreed when Porter asked him if he wanted to go to a hospital.
Porter said he asked about the hospital because he knew the jail would not accept Gray if he claimed to be injured. The driver,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Caesar Goodson, declined to go to the hospital, instead stopping to pick up another prisoner, Porter said. When the van finally arrived at the police station, Gray was unresponsive.
The city medical examiner ruled Gray's death a homicide, and six police officers face charges related to his death.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake<span style="color: Red;">*</span>fired<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Police Commissioner<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Anthony Batts in July, citing a spike in violent crime after Gray's death.
The jury could begin deliberating Porter's fate as soon as late Monday. The<span style="color: Red;">*</span>police department has canceled leave for some officers this week as a precaution should<span style="color: Red;">*</span>violence break out when a verdict is announced.
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