A Baltimore judge ruled Tuesday that two officers' statements would be admissible at their trials in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, while three other cops charged in the case withdrew their efforts to block their statements, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Judge Barry Williams rejected motions by attorneys for Sgt. Alicia D. White and Officer William G. Porter to block their statements. The attorneys had argued that the statements were obtained unjustly, with one of White's attorneys accusing Baltimore investigators of essentially tricking White into giving her statement by making her think she was only a witness, the Sun reports. Investigating officers also allegedly suggested to White that by signing two documents waiving her Miranda rights and her rights under the state Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, she was not basically giving up her rights, when, in fact, she was.
Prosecutors refuted the claim, saying that the statements were obtained lawfully. According to the Sun, Deputy State's Attorney Jan Bledsoe pointed out that the defense's argument that a police sergeant did not understand her rights when agreeing to give a statement was "a serious problem."
The judge agreed, saying that there was no evidence that White had been forced to give her statements. "Sgt. White had the opportunity to say no" to police investigators multiple times, but she didn't choose to do so, Williams said.
In the meantime, three other officers charged in the Gray case—Lt. Brian W. Rice and Officers Edward M. Nero and Garrett E. Miller—agreed to cease their own efforts to block statements they made to investigators. The remaining officer charged in the case, Caesar R. Goodson Jr., did not give a statement to investigators.
Read more at the Baltimore Sun.