BREAKING: Prisoner in Van Said Freddie Gray Was ‘banging against the walls’ During Ride

a reply to: NavyDoc

I love reading your input too, I fill myself with too much passion when it comes to social issues and sometimes do not think straight, is good to read people's post that keeps things at a level to bring me back into place.

originally posted by: andy1972

originally posted by: damwel
Isn't it odd that people are killing themselves to try and make innocent police officers look like murderous thugs. RIGHT!

No, they are trying to make the police look like thugs because it ends in a big "Pay Day" but this time maybe it went wrong...

Everyone knows that sueing the PD ends in big bucks with the amount of schyster lawyers that there are working the police departments.

Then the police should have done their due diligence, and buckled the guy in, as protocol dictates. All things considered, Freddie Grey's death will prove to be VERY expensive!

Believe this story if it makes you feel better. The release of information is now not happening, other than this gem. Looks like they found a person they could work with.

Officials covering for bad actions are just as guilty, maybe worse. Misuse of power and trust.

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: NavyDoc

I love reading your input too, I fill myself with too much passion when it comes to social issues and sometimes do not think straight, is good to read people's post that keeps things at a level to bring me back into place.

I suffer from passion-itis too, lol. So I feel your pain.

To me, this appears to validate the idea that Gray was killed due to not being properly restrained in the van cell.
THIS points to operational negligence by the officers, but would discredit any racial motivation in the case.

And police have yet to clarify why Gray would have been standing without a seat belt on. Just nine days before his arrest, the Baltimore Police Department issued a new policy, making it obligatory to belt all inmates placed in the back of a transport van.

REVEALED: Freddie Gray suffered fatal 'catastrophic injury when he fell head first in back of police van and broke neck as head hit bolt'

Medical examiner 'found Freddie Gray's catastrophic head injury was consistent with bolt in the back door of the police van'

Police report suggests he was standing and fell head first into the door

An investigation has concluded Freddie Gray broke his neck after falling head-first into the back of the police van as it was moving, it was reported today.

Medical and law enforcement sources briefed on the police investigation told ABC News Gray's 'catastrophic' head injuries were consistent with hitting a bolt 'in the back door of the van'.
They claimed there was 'no evidence' Gray sustained a fatal spine injury during his arrest, which was caught on camera on a street side on April 12.

According to ABC's sources, Gray was standing in the van, bent over with his hand cuffed behind his back and his head pointing towards the back door.

It is believed he fell into the door, breaking his neck.

www.dailymail.co.uk... e.html

originally posted by: andy1972

originally posted by: damwel
Isn't it odd that people are killing themselves to try and make innocent police officers look like murderous thugs. RIGHT!

No, they are trying to make the police look like thugs because it ends in a big "Pay Day" but this time maybe it went wrong...

Everyone knows that sueing the PD ends in big bucks with the amount of schyster lawyers that there are working the police departments.

Gray was basically decapitated, spinal cord wise. Had he lived (and few do with that type of high level spinal cord injury) he would have been a quadriplegic, on a ventilator with a trach, and on tube feeds because he would no longer be able to eat without the food and liquids going down the wrong pipe, into his lungs.

While I think frivolous lawsuits and litigation is ridiculous, Grays family has EVERY right to sue the BPD for wrongful death.

An injury like that doesn't happen after a "rough" arrest...It happens when someone takes your head and jerks it to one side, or another, while your body is being held still.

I bet it did sound like he was banging his head on the walls...But it wasn't his head, it was probably the LEO's legs, feet, arms, and gear making all that racket. In a confined space, with probably metal partitions,it probably did sound like Gray was going nuts. The noise level was probably off the chain.

As far as the OP goes, I call BS on that. Seeing and hearing are two different senses that aren't anything alike...

a reply to: IAMTAT

I don't it simply discredits anything racial, do they ignore the protocol for all or just some?

Not saying it is, just hat him dying to negligence would not discredit it.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Good point...however...
I wonder if the other prisoner was belted in...and, if so, if he was black as well.

Sounds to me the other prisoner is trying to get a better deal.

a reply to: lovebeck

Don't we all, specially when is so much happening all around us,

IAMTAT, I was looking at the negligent factor that could be use to dismiss the Gray case I don't think that the police officers involved will even be losing their jobs if this is the way the District attorney decide to view the case under.

a reply to: marg6043

It does look like police policy was violated:

Just nine days before his [Gray] arrest, the Baltimore Police Department issued a new policy, making it obligatory to belt all inmates placed in the back of a transport van.

www.dailymail.co.uk... e.html

Still, I don't know if this would be a firing offense.
Absolutely, any disciplinary action of this nature, taken against officers for a prisoner safety violation will never suffice for those looking for prison time for officers.

THIS from AP minutes ago:

OFFICER IN FATAL ARREST ONCE HOSPITALIZED OVER MENTAL HEALTH

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The highest-ranking Baltimore police officer in the arrest that led to Freddie Gray's death was hospitalized in April 2012 over mental health concerns for an unknown duration and had his guns confiscated by local sheriff's deputies, according to records from the sheriff's office and court obtained by The Associated Press.

Lt. Brian Rice, who initially pursued Gray on a Baltimore street when Gray fled after Rice made eye contact April 12, declared three years ago that he "could not continue to go on like this" and threatened to commit an act that was censored in the public version of a report obtained by the AP from the Carroll County, Maryland, Sheriff's Office. Rice lived in the county, about 35 miles northwest of Baltimore. At the time, deputies were responding to a request to check on his welfare by a fellow Baltimore police officer who is the mother of Rice's son.

Deputies reported that Rice appeared "normal and soft spoken" and said he had been seeking "sympathy and attention." But citing "credible information," the deputies confiscated both his official and personal guns, called his commanding officer and transported Rice to the Carroll Hospital Center. The weapons included his .40-caliber police pistol, a 9 mm handgun, an AK-47-style rifle, a .22-caliber rifle and two shotguns.

It was not immediately clear how long Rice was at the hospital or whether he went on his own accord. Rice declined to speak with the AP or discuss allegations in a subsequent court filing that he had behaved in erratic or threatening ways toward family members. When the AP visited Rice's home last week and left a note requesting an interview, Rice called the sheriff's department to report the visit as trespassing. Karen McAleer, the mother of his son, also declined to speak with the AP.

The events described in the 2012 report provided the basis for one of at least two administrative suspensions for Rice in 2012 and 2013, a person familiar with the police department staff said. This person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential personnel matters.

MORE:
hosted.ap.org...

a reply to: IAMTAT

Well is about time that the history of the police officers comes out, is been all about Grays police records, I agree that if the police are only charged with negligence that is just a slap on the wrist and nothing else, the city will pay the 200 thousand dollars to the family and life will go on.

That is peachy that is some great quality of officers in there and he is still able to carry a weapon.

originally posted by: IAMTAT
a reply to: marg6043

It does look like police policy was violated:

Just nine days before his [Gray] arrest, the Baltimore Police Department issued a new policy, making it obligatory to belt all inmates placed in the back of a transport van.

www.dailymail.co.uk... e.html

Still, I don't know if this would be a firing offense.
Absolutely, any disciplinary action of this nature, taken against officers for a prisoner safety violation will never suffice for those looking for prison time for officers.

As far as I'm concerned, even if he hurt himself, it only changes the charges. From homicide, in any degree, to at least criminal negligence. Coupled with a severe color of law violation for arresting someone for running, I can't see any reason any of those police should keep their job.

But then I'm old school, and I take the outdated concepts of innocent until proven guilty and obligation of care very seriously.

From the moment a person has cuffs on, it is an officers obligation to protect that person even from themself.

I will have zero sympathy for these officers until I see some probable cause.

originally posted by: andy1972

originally posted by: hammanderr
a reply to: IAMTAT

If the Michael Brown story is anything to go by.....he was on video robbing a store a few minutes before being shot by a cop. It changes nothing in the eyes of the long suffering, permanent victim-class in this country.

You could produce a video of the exact moment when Freddy Grey smacked his head and severed his spine in a self inflicted fashion. No one would care. They still would not take responsibility for their own or his actions.

And the above is the very uncomfortable truth which everyone wants to hide from, "the permanent victim class" wouldn't have been happy if he had survived, they need martyrs.

He'll become a black "Remember the Alamo".

Yes, the "Racial Grievance Industry". Whatever happened to getting a job and working for a living? All these men who get dead by the cops have commonalities. None of them have jobs and they all are criminals.

Interview with the other prisoner in the van with Gray:

“I am Donta Allen. I am the one who was in the van with Freddie Gray,” Allen said.

The one who the police commissioner calls the second prisoner in the van.
“The second prisoner who was picked up said that he didn’t see any harm done to Freddie at all,” Commissioner Anthony Batts said. “What he has said is that he heard Freddie thrashing about.”

But Allen wants to set something straight.
“All I did was go straight to the station, but I heard a little banging like he was banging his head,” he said.

He tells WJZ he’s angry about an internal police report published in The Washington Post.
“And they trying to make it seem like I told them that, I made it like Freddie Gray did that to hisself (sic),” Allen said. “Why the [expletive] would he do that to hisself (sic)?”

Allen was in the van because he allegedly stole a cigarette from a store on North Avenue.
He was never charged. Instead he was brought straight to the station.

“I talked to homicide. I told homicide the same story.” Allen said.

A story he says is being distorted and now he fears being killed.
“I had two options today right, either come and talk to y’all and get my credibility straight with ya’ll and not get killed by these [expletive] or not tell a true story,” Allen added. “The only reason I’m doing this is because they put my name in a bad state.”

His statements are included in a police report that was today turned over to the city state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby.

baltimore.cbslocal.com...

a reply to: IAMTAT

Imagine that, his story is massively different now and in no way makes it sound like the kid did it to himself.

originally posted by: windword

originally posted by: andy1972

originally posted by: damwel
Isn't it odd that people are killing themselves to try and make innocent police officers look like murderous thugs. RIGHT!

No, they are trying to make the police look like thugs because it ends in a big "Pay Day" but this time maybe it went wrong...

Everyone knows that sueing the PD ends in big bucks with the amount of schyster lawyers that there are working the police departments.

Then the police should have done their due diligence, and buckled the guy in, as protocol dictates. All things considered, Freddie Grey's death will prove to be VERY expensive!

Except that is not the protocol. Apparently they dont strap people in as to (quote form news) "not invade their space"

What I gather from this report is something was going on in the back of the van which this witness admitted he could not and did not see.

So what makes the most sense given the long track record of police brutality around this country and particularly within the Baltimore Police Department?

The suspect was alone and banging his own head into the side of the van at a severe enough rate to cause life threatening injuries to himself he ultimately dies from, or that there was another cop or two in the back with him beating the crap out of him?

Up to you to decide but in reading through the somewhat recent history of the Baltimore Police Department, you'd be hard-pressed to find a logical and objective reason to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Furthermore, even if this was self-inflicted which I consider to be a long shot, it's the responsibility of the arresting officers to get the suspect from point A to point B safely. If you don't, that falls on you, the negligent officers.

a reply to: Harvin

Except that is not the protocol. Apparently they dont strap people in as to (quote form news) "not invade their space"

“It is police policy that all arrestees must be buckled in during transport. The policy, updated just nine days before Freddie Gray was injured, states ‘all passengers, regardless of age and location, shall be restrained by seat belts or other authorized restraining devices.'”

“Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said Thursday that here are no circumstances under which a prisoner should not be wearing a seatbelt during transport and “that’s part of our investigation.

“‘Much like any other vehicle, you seatbelt people in and it’s our responsibility to make sure people are safely transported,’ Batts said, ‘especially if their hands are behind their back.'”

Baltimore police reportedly broke their new seat belt policy with Freddie Gray