How Secrecy and Vagueness Around Police Policies Led to the Freddie Gray Mistrial

The trail of Baltimore police officer William G. Porter, one of six cops charged in the death of Freddie Gray in April, ended in a hung jury on December 16. One of the main reasons jurors couldn’t agree on a verdict is because of vagueness around Baltimore police department policies in terms of cops’ responsibilities when they have suspects in custody, according to reporters covering the trial.

Gray was arrested and handcuffed on April 12 and then placed in the back of a cop van where, medical examiners say, his spinal cord was severely injured during a bumpy, lengthy transport. Porter was called in by the police officers driving the van (who also face upcoming trials) and inspected Gray’s condition during a stop. Gray had not been placed in a seatbelt for the ride, and Porter allegedly did not immediately call medics after Gray was seen obviously ailing and had reportedly asked for a doctor.