*The death of Freddie Gray continues to be a topic of discussion amid news surfacing that no medical assistance was given to Baltimore resident, despite one of the officers involved in the incident being told that he appeared to need such help.
Officials note that Gray, who was arrested for carrying a knife, was handcuffed and shackled as he was rushed in to a transport van and not secured with a seatbelt in April. Prosecutors in the case mention that Baltimore police Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., the van’s driver, called on Officer William Porter, who is black, to check on Gray, who died from a spinal injury during the van ride.
Six Baltimore officers were charged in connection with the 25-year-old’s death. A story that ran in the Baltimore Sun on Saturday (Sept. 26) cited police findings and an initial police review of Gray’s fatal injury as it gave Porter’s version of what happened.
According to Porter, he told investigators that he informed Goodson that the jail booking facility they were to take Gray to would not process him because he was in medical distress.
The Sun’s report revealed additional details surrounding Porter who told investigators that although Gray requested medical assistance, he wondered if he truly needed it or was faking his injury because he wanted to avoid jail by going to a hospital.
Prosecutors go on to mention that Porter and Goodson, who is also black, received a call requesting police support as they discussed taking Gray in for medical care. Upon receiving the call, Goodson ended up driving off with Gray still unsecured in the vehicle. Prosecutors add that Gray had stopped breathing when Goodson arrived later at a police station was taken to a hospital. He died a week later.
In May Porter was charged with manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment, according to Reuters, which acknowledged that Goodson is charged with second-degree murder. Sergeant Alicia White faces a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The specifics of what actually happened were initially given to investigators by some of the officers involved differ. As a result, separate trials have been ordered for each officer. Porter is expected to testify against Goodson and White, The Sun reports.
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