Baltimore, MD – In spite of calls from various groups for prosecutors to drop the charges, the next trial of a Baltimore Police charged in the death of Freddie Gray will move forward next week. An advisory from the court indicates pre-trial motions for Officer Garrett Miller will be heard on Wednesday, with jury selection scheduled for Thursday
- Baltimore Police Officer Garrett Miller stands trial next week for the death of Freddie Gray
- Jury selection is scheduled for Thursday, however, Miller is expected to follow the lead of the last three officers to stand trial and request a bench trial
- Miller, 27, is charged with second degree assault, endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office, all of which are misdemeanors
- Miller is the fifth officer to go to trial for Gray’s death – the last three officers were all acquitted in bench trials
- The fourth officer, William Porter, ended with a hung jury, facing retrial in September
- Gray died from injuries he suffered in a police transport van
Miller is currently suspended with pay since May of last year- Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams, who cleared Lt. Brian Rice of all charges in the Gray murder trial, stated that the state’s attorney’s office lacks the evidence to prove the officers’ conduct was criminal
- Williams has said medical evidence was unclear about when exactly during Gray’s ride in the van his injuries occurred
- Prosecutors and defense attorneys are barred from speaking publicly about the cases because of a gag order imposed by Williams
- Gray, 25, died April 2015, a week after he suffered spinal cord injuries while he was transported in a police van after being arrested for allegedly possession an illegal switchblade
- The death of Gray caused immense outrage and protests in Baltimore, adding extreme tensions between civilians and law enforcement
Miller is currently suspended with pay since May of last year