US officer found not guilty in Freddie Gray's death

NEW YORK

A Baltimore judge on Thursday acquitted police officer Ceasar Goodson Jr. of all charges, including second-degree murder, in the death of unarmed black male Freddie Gray last April.

Prosecutors failed to prove Goodson gave the 25-year-old Gray a so-called "rough ride" as he drove the van that transported the victim following his arrest for possessing a switchblade, according to judge Barry Williams.

A rough ride refers to a form of police brutality in which a handcuffed is placed in a police van without a seat belt and driven about in an erratic manner intended to injure the passenger.

While being transported, Gray suffered a severed spinal cord and slipped into a coma. He died a week later from what the medical examiner ruled a homicide.

In a transcript of his remarks, Williams said the term “rough ride” was "inflammatory" and "when uttered, it is not to be taken lightly".

The judge said there were five "equally plausible scenarios" that could have caused the victim’s death as the vehicle made multiple stops and turns while Gray was inside.

He said the evidence was not sufficient to prove Goodson was aware that Gray was in an immediate need of medical help.

Reacting to the decision, area politicians and leaders called for calm in Baltimore, in an effort to avoid a repeat of protests last year following Gray’s death.

"We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion," Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said via Twitter.

Congressman Elijah Cummings, whose district covers part of the city, said in a press release that Williams has shown himself to be a "tough, fair adjudicator.”

But civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement that he was "disappointed" with the decision while asserting that Goodson's actions "directly caused Gray’s death.”

Gray’s death sparked two weeks of protests, looting and arson last year in the majority black city.

In May last year, Baltimore State Attorney Marylin Mosby said the state pressed charges against the six officers involved in Gray’s arrest and transport after his death was ruled a homicide.

Goodson, 46, was the only officer facing a murder charge.

Cell phone video of the arrest show Gray pinned to the ground -- screaming before being placed in the van while shackled and handcuffed. He was not secured with a seat belt in violation of police procedure.

Goodson was the third officer to be tried in the case and was facing the most serious charges, including three counts of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

The trial of officer William Porter, the first be to tried in the case, ended with a hung jury last December. He was later ordered to testify against his colleagues and is scheduled to be retried in September.

Last month, Judge Williams found officer Edward Nero not guilty in the case.

Three other officers will stand trial.