Autopsy Report Rules Freddie Gray’s Death Was A Homicide

As no surprise, the death of the Baltimore man who died while in police custody, was ruled a homicide.  Freddie Gray was arrested on April 12th, after a police chase and died shortly after from a spinal injury.   According to the Baltimore Sun his autopsy report, revealed the 25-year-old suffered a “high-energy injury” to the neck and spine.  The report confirmed Gray's injuries were a direct result of riding in the back of the police van and caused by the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle.

The state medical examiner’s office has officially ruled Gray's death a homicide, because he wasn't buckled-up and his wrists and ankles were shackled.  The medical examiner reports, the police officers are responsible because they failed to follow safety procedures and put Freddie Gray at risk for “an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van.”

The Sun reports a police official said when Gray arrived to the station, "he could not talk and he could not breathe." Sadly, the young man died a week later.  Shockingly, Freddie Gray isn't the only person who died or was severely injured after riding in a Baltimore police van.

In 2004 Jeffrey Alston was paralyzed from the neck down after a ride in a police van.  He sued the department and was awarded $39 million by a jury.  In 2005 Dondi Johnson Sr. was left a paraplegic after a riding in a police van. Johnson also died from his injuries and his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department.  Former city police officer, Charles J. Key, was a key witness in their case. He testified such injuries are inflicted by what's known as a "rough ride" or "unsanctioned technique" using police vans to cause "injury or pain" to unbuckled, handcuffed detainees.  The Johnson family won a $7.4 million verdict against the officers involved.

There have been several other lawsuits filed for the same thing and all resulted in payouts. So, you would think the state would have done something about this so-called police techniques.

In Gray's case, all six officers involved in his arrest have plead not guilty.  They are currently facing charges including illegal arrest, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct assault.  The trial will take place sometime in October.