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A Baltimore judge acquitted Lieutenant Brian Rice of all charges today for his involvement in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in April 2015.

Rice was the highest ranking of the six police officers charged in the high-profile case by Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Prosecutors have yet to secure a conviction.

Rice, 42, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. He elected a bench trial, and Circuit Judge Barry Williams decided his fate instead of a jury.

Two other officers were previously acquitted in relation to Gray’s death — Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson Jr. Another officer, William Porter, had a mistrial last year after a jury could not reach a consensus on the charges brought against him.

Rice was the police officer identified as initiating the pursuit of Gray in April 2015 and was accused of recklessly endangering his life by failing to secure him with a seatbelt when he rode in the back of a police van. Gray died of injuries that he sustained while in police custody seven days after he was apprehended.

All of the officers involved in the case have pleaded not guilty. Officer Garrett Miller is scheduled to to go to trial next on July 27. Porter will be retried on Sept. 6. A sixth officer, Sgt. Alicia White, is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 13.

 

Source:  ABCNews