Judge: Officers involved in Freddie Gray death can sue state attorney

A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Baltimore City State’s Attorney, brought by five of the six officers charged in the Freddie Gray case, to go on.

In an opinion released on Friday, Judge Marvin J. Garbis threw out false arrest and imprisonment claims and allowed portions alleging malicious prosecution, defamation, invasion of privacy, and Fourth Amendment violations to proceed.

WBAL reports that Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White, and Officers Garrett Miller, Edward Nero, and William Porter claimed Marilyn Mosby made comments to quell riots which in turn damaged their reputations.

The suit also names Assistant Sheriff Samuel Cogen, who the plaintiffs alleged, along with Marilyn Mosby, launched an investigation into Gray’s death without the department’s involvement. The Baltimore Sun pointed out that Cogen penned the statement of probable cause.

“They exposed plaintiffs to public scorn, hatred, and contempt, thereby discouraging others in the community from having a favorable opinion or associating with plaintiffs,” the suit read.

Officer Caesar Goodson, the van driver who transported Gray, is the only officer who isn’t included in the proceedings, according to WMAR Baltimore.

All six officers were acquitted for the April 2015 death of Gray, who died of injuries sustained in the back of a police van. A series of riots and protests followed the incident which led to a city-wide curfew and the deployment of the National Guard.

On Wednesday, the city of Baltimore and US Justice Department announced an agreement to reform its police department. The 227-page consent decree determined the 2,600-member department routinely violated Black residents’ rights by conducting strip searches and using excessive force.

“The reforms in this consent decree will help ensure effective and constitutional policing, restore the community’s trust in law enforcement, and advance public and officer safety,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said, according to Reuters.

[Feature Photo: AP/Jose Luis Magana, File]