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The Dripby Brew Editors12:53 pmJun 23, 20160

Police van driver acquitted of all charges in Freddie Gray case

Judge said the evidence did not support the charges. FOP calls for end of officer prosecutions.

Above: After a three-day trial in Baltimore, a judge found the van driver in the Freddie Gray case not guilty of all charges. (Fern Shen)

Judge Barry G. Williams today acquitted Baltimore police offiecr Caesar Goodson Jr. of all the charges he faced in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, saying he could find no evidence that Goodson was responsible for it.

As the driver of the van in which prosecutors say Gray suffered fatal injuries, Goodson faced the most serious charges of the six officers indicted in the 25-year-old West Baltimore man’s arrest last April.

Along with  depraved-heart murder, Goodson also faced charges of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

In the wake of today’s acquittal, Lodge No. 3 of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents Baltimore officers, called on State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to end the “malicious prosecution” of the four remaining officers.

“We are more than certain that they, too, will be found to be without guilt,” wrote lodge president Gene S. Ryan. “To continue this travesty is an insult to the taxpaying citizens of Baltimore who, at the end of the day, bear the full burden of the enormous cost of these trails that have no merit and continue to divide our city.”

There has been no comment from Mosby’s office.

Prosecutors presented evidence they said showed that Goodson failed to render aid to the injured 25-year-old on five occasions and failed to use the seat belt on him.

They also accused Goodson of driving recklessly, causing the handcuffed and shackled Gray to bounce around inside the van and suffer a fatal neck injury.

But Williams, who heard evidence over the course of a three-day trial, said the evidence did not support their theories.

Today’s verdict marks the third trial in the case to end without a conviction. Officer William Porter’s trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial. Officer Edward M. Nero was acquitted of all charges by Williams last month.

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