Baltimore Police Brutality Case Study
Twenty- five year old Freddie Gray lost his life on April 19th, 2015 due to the cruel treatment of police brutality. Gray was arrested on a weapons charge in a high-crime area of Baltimore. He was harshly shoved, pushed carelessly, dragged and then thrown into the back of a white van by six police officers. Spectators say that he was beaten inside of the van as well, due to moans and screaming being heard in the surrounding area. Gray suffered with asthma resulting in his having trouble breathing while in the police van. He begged and pleaded for his inhaler because of the lack of oxygen and was unreasonably denied.
When Gray was finally taken out of the vehicle he was pronounced unresponsive. He died a week after his arrest due to severe spinal injuries, caused by the events that occurred inside of the van. This African American man have experienced unjust hostility from six men in uniforms. He suffered and died at a substantially young age due to extreme and unexplainable circumstances. Consequently, Gray’s family and friends had to mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one that can never be brought back. It is the opinion of the Baltimore police …show more content…
department that they were acting to “protect” and “defend” the citizens of the city, as well as claim that their means were acceptable. It is the judgement of others that their behavior was not valid because unlike others, Gray’s arrest was not like “normal” procedure. Gray’s death needs justice because there is evidence that shows he was not safely seated in the van, and was not given his inhaler when needed, which is violation of the department policy. Gray’s supporters felt that even when it was shown that the police officers were mistreating this civilian, there were still had no consequences for their actions. Obviously, the police did not agree. Gray was born and raised in Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park in West Baltimore. Within his community, it was apparent that young blacks are more likely to get arrested than to finish high school. Gray however, was graduate of Carver Vocational- Technical High School and was popularly known throughout his neighborhood. A myriad of people have been interviewed regarding his case and each person has always spoke highly of him. For instance, Raheem Gaither, a friend and neighbor of Gray, stated to the Baltimore Sun, “He was so funny, anytime you were looking for a laugh, you go straight to Freddie.” (Lee & Queally, Los Angeles Times: “ Story So Far”) Gray was also greatly involved within his community, he made sure to use his talents and abilities to contribute to his hometown. In fact, he sung in his youth choir ever since his child years and used his athletic abilities to play on his neighborhood’s football team. In any event, growing up Gray has had a problematic childhood, he lived in poverty with his heroin addicted mother, who was also physically disabled and lived in a house that contained poisonous lead in the peeling painted walls and windowsills. Gray and his two sisters had levels of lead in their blood, nearly double what the state of Maryland defines as the minimum for lead poisoning. The state court concluded that Gray and his two sisters were incapable of leading normal functioning lives due to all of their disadvantages. Before the age 18, Gray has had over a dozen charges against him for crimes, such as; selling narcotics, destruction of property and trespassing.
It is shown that he has had a previous history of being rebellious against the law, because of that it was used against him in cases in the court. Gray was arrested several times per year, and often violated his probation. For this reason, Gray was frowned upon by the Baltimore police department, they saw him as a threat to his neighborhood, and no longer as a regular civilian. When Gray was last arrested, he was not acting illegally. At the sight of him, the police officers tried to find anything to use as a reason for his arrest. The officers used an alleged “switchblade” as an excuse to hold Gray in their custody. While in custody, he was pronounced
dead. When the news of Gray’s death hit the newswaves of Baltimore, riots, protesting and destruction sparked up and spread like a wildfire. One resident stated “ The streets of Baltimore looked like a war zone.” (Ford & Yan, Baltimore Riots: “Looting Fire”) On almost every corner there was someone protesting for Gray’s justice. It became so severe that mothers kept their children in the house for days due to dangerous protesting and spontaneous fires throughout the city. The fight for justice started to become a trend and touched the hearts of people all across the country. In other states, protests began in support of the anti- police movement in Baltimore. In Maryland, people started looting businesses, buildings and police cars to express their fury against the men in uniforms. A war developed between the protesters and the police officers. At least 15 officers were injured, 6 of them seriously. Rioters were out to kill and destroy the city of Baltimore as an act of revenge for Gray’s death. Gangs were even teaming up to “ take out” any officers that were seen, anyone wearing a badge was considered a major target. Maryland then declared a state emergency and deployed 1,500 National Guard members to try to control the violence and destruction that was taken placed.
When Gray was finally taken out of the vehicle he was pronounced unresponsive. He died a week after his arrest due to severe spinal injuries, caused by the events that occurred inside of the van. This African American man have experienced unjust hostility from six men in uniforms. He suffered and died at a substantially young age due to extreme and unexplainable circumstances. Consequently, Gray’s family and friends had to mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one that can never be brought back. It is the opinion of the Baltimore police …show more content…
department that they were acting to “protect” and “defend” the citizens of the city, as well as claim that their means were acceptable. It is the judgement of others that their behavior was not valid because unlike others, Gray’s arrest was not like “normal” procedure. Gray’s death needs justice because there is evidence that shows he was not safely seated in the van, and was not given his inhaler when needed, which is violation of the department policy. Gray’s supporters felt that even when it was shown that the police officers were mistreating this civilian, there were still had no consequences for their actions. Obviously, the police did not agree. Gray was born and raised in Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park in West Baltimore. Within his community, it was apparent that young blacks are more likely to get arrested than to finish high school. Gray however, was graduate of Carver Vocational- Technical High School and was popularly known throughout his neighborhood. A myriad of people have been interviewed regarding his case and each person has always spoke highly of him. For instance, Raheem Gaither, a friend and neighbor of Gray, stated to the Baltimore Sun, “He was so funny, anytime you were looking for a laugh, you go straight to Freddie.” (Lee & Queally, Los Angeles Times: “ Story So Far”) Gray was also greatly involved within his community, he made sure to use his talents and abilities to contribute to his hometown. In fact, he sung in his youth choir ever since his child years and used his athletic abilities to play on his neighborhood’s football team. In any event, growing up Gray has had a problematic childhood, he lived in poverty with his heroin addicted mother, who was also physically disabled and lived in a house that contained poisonous lead in the peeling painted walls and windowsills. Gray and his two sisters had levels of lead in their blood, nearly double what the state of Maryland defines as the minimum for lead poisoning. The state court concluded that Gray and his two sisters were incapable of leading normal functioning lives due to all of their disadvantages. Before the age 18, Gray has had over a dozen charges against him for crimes, such as; selling narcotics, destruction of property and trespassing.
It is shown that he has had a previous history of being rebellious against the law, because of that it was used against him in cases in the court. Gray was arrested several times per year, and often violated his probation. For this reason, Gray was frowned upon by the Baltimore police department, they saw him as a threat to his neighborhood, and no longer as a regular civilian. When Gray was last arrested, he was not acting illegally. At the sight of him, the police officers tried to find anything to use as a reason for his arrest. The officers used an alleged “switchblade” as an excuse to hold Gray in their custody. While in custody, he was pronounced
dead. When the news of Gray’s death hit the newswaves of Baltimore, riots, protesting and destruction sparked up and spread like a wildfire. One resident stated “ The streets of Baltimore looked like a war zone.” (Ford & Yan, Baltimore Riots: “Looting Fire”) On almost every corner there was someone protesting for Gray’s justice. It became so severe that mothers kept their children in the house for days due to dangerous protesting and spontaneous fires throughout the city. The fight for justice started to become a trend and touched the hearts of people all across the country. In other states, protests began in support of the anti- police movement in Baltimore. In Maryland, people started looting businesses, buildings and police cars to express their fury against the men in uniforms. A war developed between the protesters and the police officers. At least 15 officers were injured, 6 of them seriously. Rioters were out to kill and destroy the city of Baltimore as an act of revenge for Gray’s death. Gangs were even teaming up to “ take out” any officers that were seen, anyone wearing a badge was considered a major target. Maryland then declared a state emergency and deployed 1,500 National Guard members to try to control the violence and destruction that was taken placed.