Six US Officers Suspended After Afro-American Suspect Dies From Spine Injury In Police Custody

Six U.S. officers were suspended after Freddie Gray had suffered a fatal spine injury in police custody. The 25-year-old Afro-American suspect’s later died from the injury.

Gray was pulled into a police van off the street last week. An arresting officer claimed that he had suffered the “medical emergency” while being taken to the local police station. However, deputy commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said that there was no video or any other evidence to support the claim even after one week of the incident.

A bystander recorded the video of the incident. While the video does not show how Gray had suffered the injury, it shows four police officers dragging Gray to a police van while he was screaming.

According to Gray family's lawyer Billy Murphy, that 80 percent of his client’s spine had been severed at his neck. According to autopsy results, Gray suffered did suffer a significant spinal injury that led to his death. However, Rodriguez said that it was still unknown how the deceased had suffered the injury.

Officer Garrett Miller said that Gray had been stopped by police on bike patrol on Apr. 12. Gray was reportedly seen running away "unprovoked upon noticing police presence." Police said that he was arrested on a weapons charge after a knife had been found in his pants. "During transport to Western District via wagon transport the defendant suffered a medical emergency and was immediately transported to Shock Trauma via medic," Miller’s report said.

Police commissioner Anthony Batts said that Gray had made medical requests on several occasions. While Gray asked for an inhaler, it was noticed that he was having breathing troubles. Rodriguez earlier said that Gray was able to talk when he was put in the police van even though he was upset. However, he was unable to talk and breathe when he was taken out of the van.

The people of Baltimore have launched passionate protests following Gray’s death. Police commissioner Anthony W. Batts and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake earlier appeared at a news conference. They asked people to remain calm. The police inquiry is expected to be over on May 1.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au