The six who have been charged for death of Baltimore man are out on bail since Friday
Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., 45; Officer William G. Porter, 25; Lt. Brian W. Rice, 41; Sgt. Alicia D. White, 30; Officer Edward M. Nero, 29; and Officer Garrett E. Miller, 26, were the six officers charged for the murder of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray. On April 12, 2015, Freddie Carlos Gray, Jr., a 25-year-old Black man was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department and while being transported in a police van, Gray fell into a coma and was taken to a trauma center.
Gray died on April 19, 2015; his death was ascribed to injuries to his spinal cord. On April 21, 2015, pending an investigation of the incident, six Baltimore police officers were temporarily suspended with pay and later arrested. Three of the officers are facing manslaughter charges and one faces an additional count of second degree depraved-heart murder. The murder charge carries a possible penalty of 30 years in prison; the manslaughter and assault offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All six officers were released from jail after posting bail the same day they were booked. Two officers were released on $250,000 bail and the four others’ bail was $350,000.
In most murder cases justice is served when the suspects that commit such crimes are indicted; that is how justice is served in this country, the penalty for murder being prison. Why then in cases where police are the suspects for the murder of Black men is sentencing questionable? How are all six officers currently out on bond? In the case of Freddie Gray three of the officers charged are Black and three are White, so race is not the main factor but police privilege may be more at question here. The above the law mentality of authorities must be examined to prevent incidences like this from reoccurring.
It seems in the most recent police brutality cases, indictment is the only way to keep peace in the communities that are tired of being abused by authority figures. The riots are the only way they see a change but that won’t make matters better. There needs to be an open dialog and some level of respect between the Black citizens of this country and the authorities that police it. If not these senseless forms of violence will continue and lives will continue to be lost if justice is not properly and fairly served regardless of rank.
-Infinite Wiz (@Infinitewiz)
