Summary: The family of Freddie Gray has settled with the city of Baltimore before the officers involved in the incident have even faced a trial to prove their innocence.
Freddie Gray’s death with in Baltimore police custody set off riots and protests to a scale that the city hasn’t seen since 1968. Gray suffered a fatal neck injury while in the back of a police van after being arrested. In a few days, a judge will be deciding whether the trials of the six officers involved with move forward.
The settlement for $6.4 million will be approved by city leaders. The family had not yet filed a civil suit but the city knew they would so they acted first to provide a settlement. While Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told everyone not to take the settlement as a judgement on the officers involved.
The police union thinks differently. They are condemning the timing of the settlement, especially before the officers even faced a trial. The settlement amount aligns with other recent settlements that involved race and police actions.
The family of Eric Garner in New York settled for $5.9 million. The estate of Kenneth Smith in Cleveland settled for $5.5 million.
The six officers involved will be tried separately, all with varying levels of charges. The driver could be charged with the most serious charge of second-degree depraved-heart murder for not listening to Gray’s pleas for help while he was driving. Gray has been improperly restrained in the back of the police van.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/us/freddie-gray-baltimore-police-death.html
Photo: baltimoresun.com