6 Baltimore police being charged

[Great-Kazoo]

Freddie Gray Investigation: Six Cops Charged in His Death

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/baltimore-unrest/freddie-gray-n351881

NOTE: Please post more than just a blind link.

[RMAC757]

I've been lurking for a bit on this one trying to make sense of it. The one thing that keeps popping into my head is " When did it become illegal to run?" Furthermore, if Freddie Gray did have a knife and it was legal ( how many of us carry knives?), why was he detained? It seems that these two questions above else perplex me. This whole subject line about people's jobs being tough is lost on me. A lot of people have tough jobs. If you don't like it or are having a hard time dealing with the stresses.....quit. We have a whole lot of honorable guys and gals on this board in Law Enforcement. That doesn't mean everyone else works to the same standard. Their reputation shouldn't be stained by a mere few. I and am sure many others have witnessed abuses by people in uniform. Hell, I've been out having drinks with a few and seen professional courtesy taken too far. Most of us think that constitutional carry should be legal yet there is wailing about someone having a legal knife in their pocket? At best it seems hypocritical.

[cstone]

1. It is not illegal to run from the police. Not everyone who runs, does so because they see the police.

BUT without knowing what the police knew at the time they first observed the subject running, it is impossible to determine whether the police chased the subject solely because they were running. There are a multitude of possible reasons why the police would chase a subject after they run.

2. If the knife was legal in Baltimore AND the legality of the knife was obvious (some statutes and some knives are not always as clear cut as they should be), the arrest would be illegal. I believe that is the reason two of the officers have been charged with false imprisonment.

As with all of the charges, a jury of their peers will need to determine whether the prosecutor can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers are guilty of violating the statutes. It is a pretty high burden for the prosecutor and IMO rightfully so.

[RMAC757]

1. It is not illegal to run from the police. Not everyone who runs, does so because they see the police.

BUT without knowing what the police knew at the time they first observed the subject running, it is impossible to determine whether the police chased the subject solely because they were running. There are a multitude of possible reasons why the police would chase a subject after they run.

2. If the knife was legal in Baltimore AND the legality of the knife was obvious (some statutes and some knives are not always as clear cut as they should be), the arrest would be illegal. I believe that is the reason two of the officers have been charged with false imprisonment.

As with all of the charges, a jury of their peers will need to determine whether the prosecutor can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers are guilty of violating the statutes. It is a pretty high burden for the prosecutor and IMO rightfully so.

Thanks Cstone

[davsel]

From: http://theconservativetreehouse.com/...-manslaughter/

It’s simple. Marilyn Mosby lied. Freddie Gray had an active warrant for his arrest outstanding:

[cstone]

Please don't answer the questions on the board.

Has anyone reading this ever been charged with Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance?

If the answer is "yes" the next question is;

Has anyone ever been convicted of that charge?

Just being charged with a crime is a far sight from a conviction. Charges may be added and they may be dropped, all the way up until the day the trial begins and charges may be dismissed after the trial begins and before the jury begins to deliberate.

While I understand the work that goes into criminal trials and realize how difficult the preparation and trial (if/when) it happens will be on the community, families of those involved and the defendants...public trials are one of the best ways for releasing investigative information into the public record.

What we hear today may prove to be irrelevant to the case that is actually tried.

[RMAC757]

From: http://theconservativetreehouse.com/...-manslaughter/

It’s simple. Marilyn Mosby lied. Freddie Gray had an active warrant for his arrest outstanding:

I'm sure this will come out Davsel. She is from a long line of law enforcement ( 5 generations I think ) so it's a little hard to believe that as a States Attorney she would openly lie to bring charges. Doing so would would likely torpedo her career quickly. There is another thing to consider, how would the officers know that he had a warrent from just looking at him? I am gonna sit back and try to watch this from a factual standpoint. It looks like his court date was scheduled on 6/23/15. I don't think this case is about the defendants past as much it's about what occurred during the chain of events leading up to his arrest and detainment. I also think she should be looking to prosecute any and all who destroyed property during the riots. That behavior can never be tolerated.

[cstone]

Officers who are familiar with their beat will know many of the residents and should have an idea on who does and who does not have active warrants.

Failure to Appear warrants are pretty common among the residents on some beats.

I have no idea what the officers knew when they saw the deceased run.

Sometimes the dog chases the rabbit just because he is a dog and the rabbit is running.

[hollohas]

Just being charged with a crime is a far sight from a conviction. Charges may be added and they may be dropped, all the way up until the day the trial begins and charges may be dismissed after the trial begins and before the jury begins to deliberate.

You are absolutely correct. Charges can be dropped but IMO that's what just made this situation even more complicated. What if...some or all of the charges are dropped? For any of the officers? IMO that seems fairly likely considering right now the charges seem like a bit of a reach. But, like you said, we'll have to wait and see on that.

So for now she appeased the masses. However, I believe she better be absolutely damn sure that her case has enough evidence because if not she just opened hornets nest. Can you imagine the riots if the the charges get dropped? Even for just one of the officers?

[spyder]

The Supreme Court, and Maryland Courts have ruled that an unprovoked flight (running) is grounds for suspicion that a crime has been committed, and makes it legal for the cops to give chase, and stop you. Since this happened in a high crime area, the cops had all the right according to Maryland law to chase him, stop him for questioning, and to frisk him... without more though, there can't be an arrest. However, the guy had a pocket knife on him, and that was the charge that all of this has happened on, the knife he was carrying was said to be a switchblade "spring assisted knife" which is illegal.

So, the guy saw the cops and ran... cops gave chase, stopped him, frisked him and found the knife, and decided to take him in on the knife charge. The rest is now in the news-ish... Still need to figure out when the neck break happened.

Also