Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty Monday of all four charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray, according to Judge Barry G. Williams.
Nero, 30, was one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Gray in April 2015. He was the second to be tried, as Officer William Porter’s ended in December in a hung jury.
Nero was charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office, all related to his role in Gray’s initial detention and arrest. Nero, who opted for a bench trial rather than a jury trial, had pleaded not guilty.
Gray, 24, died April 19, 2015, a week after his neck was broken in the back of a police transport van. He was handcuffed and shackled, but not buckled into a seatbelt.
Nero’s trial lasted six days. The prosecution called 14 witnesses and the defense called seven.
“Although the criminal case against Officer Edward Nero has come to a close, the internal investigation has not. With that, Officer Nero’s status will remain unchanged. He will remain in an administrative capacity while this investigation continues,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement following Neros’ acquittal.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake emphasized that Nero is still under administrative review.
“This is our American system of justice,” she said in a statement. “We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion.”
The trials of the remaining Baltimore police officers begin next month. Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., the driver of the van, goes on trial June 6.
His trial will be followed by the trials of Lt. Brian Rice (July 5), Officer Garrett Miller (July 27), Porter (Sept. 6) and Sgt. Alicia White (Oct. 13).
All the officers have pleaded not guilty.
