Trial begins for Baltimore officer charged in arrestee death
BALTIMORE — As the highest-ranking officer involved in the arrest of a man whose broken neck in police custody sparked riots and upheaval in Baltimore, Lt. Brian Rice was well aware of his duties, prosecutors said Thursday.
“His conduct was a gross departure of what a reasonable officer would do,” and constitutes criminal negligence, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said.
A defence lawyer countered that Rice acted as any reasonable officer would when he chose not to buckle a combative arrestee into a seat belt in the tight compartment of a police transport van.
Proving negligence will be key to convicting Rice on charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office in the death of Freddie Gray, who was chased down on Rice’s orders.