Freddie Gray was a young, Black, 25 year old Baltimore man who, on the morning of April 12th, was approached by police. He ran from them, was arrested, and was put in a police van – apparently in perfectly healthy condition. He eventually exited that van with a crushed throat and mostly severed spinal column. Mr. Gray held on to life for a week before dying this past Sunday.
This has caused a huge firestorm of outrage and fury in Baltimore and across the country.
Beyond what I\’ve already posted, here is what we also know.
-Gray had been in and out of jail for a number of years on drug offenses and had a court date next month for a drug charge as well. That, however, does not mean he was dealing drugs at the time of his arrest. The police claim is that they generally suspected “criminal activity”.
-Gray was perfectly healthy when he was placed in the police van. But apparently the van made several stops between when he was placed there and when he exited in the condition that proved fatal to him.
-There is no video – so far – showing police did anything to cause his injuries. But there is no explanation being offered of how Gray, who was shackled and pretty much immobilized, could have sustained those injuries without one or more others – in this case, police officers – being involved.
-Six officers have been suspended while the investigation takes place – presumably the six who were at one point or another with Gray. But their racial makeup has not been released. Given that the Baltimore police force is almost half Black (43% is the most recent figure I\’ve seen), it certainly is possible that both Black and non-Black officers are among the six. But, again, we do not know for sure.
If the Michael Brown and Eric Garner situations should have taught us anything, it is that “facts” in cases like this tend to change very quickly, therefore we should not jump to conclusions until we have more than a preliminary grasp of what they are.
I am reserving judgment until I know more. I suggest everyone else do the same.
