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Brian Rice: Highest-Ranking Officer Cleared In Freddie Gray Death

- by Staff Writer

Some see today’s verdict as proof that there was a rush to judgement when State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby filed charges against six officers in wake of the Baltimore riots.

After days of turmoil in Baltimore Mosby declared  “I heard your call for ‘No justice, no peace.’ Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man.

To those that are angry, hurt or have their own experiences of injustice at the hands of police officers I urge you to channel that energy peacefully as we prosecute this case I have heard your calls for ‘No justice, no peace,’ however your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of Freddie Gray.”

Today Judge Barry Williams handed Mosby another defeat when he found Baltimore police Lt. Brian Rice  not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in connection with Freddie Gray’s arrest and death.

To some Today’s exoneration of Lt. Brian Rice is another important reminder that we do not give into mob rule and rush to judgement in America.

In what appears to be a doubling down move Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a statement saying the lieutenant will face a departmental administrative review now that the trial is over. She has issues the same statements after all of the other not guilty verdicts.

Our readers will remember that in a move to settle the case with Freddie Gray’s family Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake decided to pay a $6.4 million civil settlement before any of the officer’s trials had begun.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake also stated “This has been a very difficult time for our city, and I thank the community for their patience during this time and ask their continued respect for the judicial process as we move forward,” she said.
Gene Ryan, president of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police, said he was pleased with the judge’s ruling and took the occasion to lambaste State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and demand she call off the “malicious” prosecutions of the two officers who remain to be tried and the one scheduled to be retried.
The Fraternal Order of Police reacted to the not guilt verdict shortly after the judges decision.

“If Mrs. Mosby’s office is willing to violate rules in these high-profile cases, we can only imagine what her office is doing in the cases that affect the citizens of Baltimore every day when the media’s not around,” he said. “The citizens of Baltimore deserve better from Mrs. Mosby’s office.” Mosby was not in court Monday.

 

Image Credits: State of Maryland