Baltimore Police Department Lieutenant Brian Rice was acquitted of all charges Monday for his involvement in the death of Freddie Gray. Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died in custody in April 2015 with a broken spinal injury after officers loaded him into the back of a police transport van with his hands and legs shackled and no seat belt, sparking national outrage.
Baltimore Police Lieutenant Brian Rice is shown here in this undated booking photo provided by the Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Police Department. REUTERS/Baltimore Police Department/Handout
Baltimore Judge Barry Williams, who handed Rice the acquittal, also acquitted Officer Edward Nero and Officer Caesar Goodson.
Rice is the highest ranked officer of the six officers prosecuted and the fourth to stand trial, the Baltimore Sun reported. He faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office for not fastening Gray's seat belt. Rice had opted for a bench trial.
Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton tweeted that Williams said the "state had failed to prove case" and provide evidence.