In the wake of State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s announcement that six officers involved in the Freddie Gray case have been charged, Baltimore began to unclench.

The tense mood at the Inner Harbor lifted. After the announcement, National Guardsman, noticeably less on edge, checked their phones.

City and state police, some still carrying shields, sat down at the amphitheater between the Light Street and Pratt Street pavilions, doing the same. A few of them were comfortable enough to smoke cigarettes.

“I know the police”

Josh Anderson, chatted amicably with the officers, some of whom knew him on a first-name basis from his years of “having run-ins” with them.

“I dealt with the police constantly before I got my life together,” said Anderson, who said he is 50 and now a street vendor who sells Orioles paraphernalia on game days. “I know some of them from the time they became police to the time they retired.”

His reaction to the news of the indictments was joy. “It’s going to go back to normal,” he said of the city. “People will feel better.”

This afternoon Anderson was seeking police help to find a branch of the Sun Trust Bank for a friend. The branch, near the state’s attorney’s office, was closed in anticipation of civil unrest, he found out.

He said he wants an end of the state of emergency as soon as possible. “I hope they lift the curfew Saturday, so people can start going out again instead of this 10 o’clock stuff.”

“Right now,” he added, “I’m pissed because my friend has to go all the way to Glen Burnie to find an open bank.”

Relieved, but also Cynical

A Digital Harbor High School student who gave his name as “Nollie,” heard the news as he was walking home from school, past the tourist district’s heavy security.

He said the charges being filed is a good development but he had little confidence they would result in much accountability.

“The police presence will die down, but the charges will ultimately be dropped,” he said. “The officers will be back out on the street, but maybe they won’t be officers any more.”

Nollie said he’s been rattled by the Guardsmen patrolling along the harborside route that’s his daily walk between school and the bus.

He said he especially didn’t like “those big guns.”
__________________________________

Other Random Reactions on the Internet and Social Media:

“I’m looking forward to seeing the @BaltimorePolice tweeting the mugshots of these 6 officers being charged for killing #FreddieGray” –Deray McKesson on Twitter.

“Thank you, @MarilynMosbyEsq, not for giving people what they needed to hear, but for showing that the rule of law can also serve the people.” –Kevin Griffin Moreno on Twitter.

“I don’t think most of the charges are going to hold up in court, especially in front of a trial judge or by a jury in an area outside of the city. 2nd degree murder??? Really??? With the current list of charges, I can see the entire case being thrown out of court. I am not saying that the police are not negligent but with the current evident (at least as Mosby was stating), it does not sound like a case of malice. This list of charges was made to temporarily appease the protesters to avoid riots, especially since her office has not even completed their investigation.” -–Matt R on Baltimore Brew comments.

“Let me begin by stating how appalled and frustrated we are at this morning’s events and the information announced by State’s Attorney Mosby. We are disappointed in an apparent rush to judgment given the fact that the investigation into this matter has not been concluded. Our officers, like every other American citizen, are entitled to due process and we will continue to support them throughout the judicial process which we believe will result in a finding of innocence.” –Statement by Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 3.

“The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #3 has been overwhelmed with the enormous generosity of people from around the world. We have received many requests to open an online account that will accept monetary donations for the 6 officers who have been wrongly charged in the death of Freddie Gray. All monies collected will be used to assist our officers with their living expenses during their unpaid suspension. as well as to help defray their legal expenses.” – Statement on am FOP crowdfunding site, GoFundMe (since taken down) that raised $830 in 33 minutes.

“You said ‘wrongly charged,’ as if Freddie Gray just magically died of natural causes while in police custody. Question: Will you refund the donors if any officers are convicted?” –Commenter David Hobby, posted on the GoFundMe site.

Other Developments:

• CURFEW: The Baltimore curfew remains in effect tonight between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and the city remains under a state of emergency.

• BAIL: The six officers were given bail of $250,000-$350,000 each. No word on whether any of them have posted bail. (Bail hearings are not open to the public.)

• MAYOR: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, in a brief statement to reporters and on the Internet, says she was “sickened” by the charges against the officers and “will continue to be relentless in changing the culture of the police department” to guarantee that everyone is treated equally.

• MOSBY: State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby rejects call by FOP Lodge 3, representing Baltimore police, to appoint a special prosecutor in the case because of the “many conflicts of interest presented by your office,” presaging what the officers’ defense attorneys will argue in court.