Freddie Gray death: New narratives question police brutality claim

CNN ^ | April 30, 2015 | Holly Yan

[ETL]

(CNN)Two new accounts of what happened to Freddie Gray question the narrative that has fueled protests in Baltimore -- the claim that Gray died as a result of police brutality.

The first comes from a relative of one of the officers involved in the arrest. She told CNN the officer thinks Gray was injured while he was being arrested -- before he was put inside a police van.

The second is an account from a prisoner who was in the same police van, as published in The Washington Post. The prisoner reportedly told investigators he thought Gray "was intentionally trying to injure himself."

The new twists to the story come just before Baltimore police are set to release to state prosecutors the results of their investigation into Gray's arrest and death. The state's attorney for Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby, will decide whether charges should be filed against any of the six officers involved in the arrest.

[skeeter]

CNN? Wonders never cease.

[DiogenesLamp]

The first comes from a relative of one of the officers involved in the arrest. She told CNN the officer thinks Gray was injured while he was being arrested -- before he was put inside a police van.

I think so too. If you look at the video, he is being supported on either side by officers, and appears to be screaming in pain. He looks as though he can't stand up, which would be completely consistent with a serious back injury.

How does one sever a spinal cord while riding in a van, short of a major automobile accident?

My money is on the cops engaging in police brutality. They probably hit him with a patrol unit.

[cripplecreek]

And speaking of those "peaceful protests". There have been 13 people killed in Baltimore since Freddy was arrested on the 12th. 9 shot last night.

(Twitchy) Underreported news: ‘Calm’ protests mask ongoing gun violence in Baltimore; 13 dead since Gray’s arrest

[Verginius Rufus]

Judging from the reaction of people questioned on the streets of Baltimore last night by Fox reporters (after the news came out) it won't matter--the black people of Baltimore will refuse to believe the evidence.

Anyway, the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown cases show that the truth of what happened is irrelevant...the rage will continue.

[Texas Eagle]

Sayyyyyy. You don't suppose the "other" prisoner in the van was, oh, I don't know, enticed?, to offer his recollections with a promise of a reduced sentence or anything, do you?

Nahhhhhh. Never happen. Policemen are Union members. Unions would never resort to such sleazy tactics to protect one or two of their own.

Oh. By the way. Totally different subject. Whatever happened to that Chicago cop who beat the snot out of that itty-bitty barmaid a few years ago? Anybody know?

Anybody?

Anybody?

Bueller?

[subterfuge]

Sometimes lawbreakers get hit and deserve it. It’s something to consider.

[McGruff]

So he wasn’t really an unarmed black teenager?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It won’t matter.
The crowd already knows it’s Whitey’s fault.

[BenLurkin]

CNN must be feeling guilty for its role in starting the riot.

[Vigilanteman]

Freddy as served his purpose and the facts, whatever they are, no longer matter. We will get the full story about the time we get the full story on Benghazi.

[corbe]

No he was not UNARMED, According to the pictures of the COPS dragging him from the ARREST SCENE-He was unlegged!

[PghBaldy]

The only person saying he had a severed cord is the family’s lawyer. He very well could be lying.

[ilovesarah2012]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-police-found-guilty-covering-bartender-beating/story?id=17716840

[Tupelo]

There is something that leads me to question the narrative that Freddy Gray was injured while in police custody.
The Black's President has made his judgment known as to who is at fault here. The Cops.
Same as he did in in the Henry Louis Gates case. Same as he did in the Trayvon Martin case. Same as he did in the Michael Brown case.
What are the odds he is right here? His track record on race relations ain't any better that his economic record. or his foreign policy record.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

How does one sever a spinal cord while riding in a van, short of a major automobile accident?

The severed spinal cord isn't confirmed yet. It was reported by the family lawyers.

Gray was reportedly thrashing about in the back of the van. If he was standing up and handcuffed, he could have hit his head when the van turned a corner, causing a fatal injury. Unlikely, but possible.

[Dr. Ursus]

CNN ramped up the incident to a full blown riot. They have blood on their hands. Just like they did in St.Louis!

[ETL]

Related article just posted by FReeper Jan_Sobieski...

Prisoner in police van said Freddie Gray was “banging against the walls”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3284802/posts

[Steve_Seattle]

"The only person saying he had a severed cord is the family’s lawyer. He very well could be lying."

"Well, uh, ah was only sayin' he had a broken shoelace. I was misinterpreted, misquoted, manipulated, distorted, contorted, and lynched by the white media."

[ETL]

“Prisoner in police van said Freddie Gray was ‘banging against the walls’...”

Could have been because of the pain.