BALTIMORE (MEDIA GENERAL) – The trial of Baltimore police officer William Porter ended in a mistrial on Wednesday after the jury announced it could not reach a unanimous verdict on involuntary manslaughter charges Porter faced in the death of Freddie Gray.
Within hours, protesters began marching in honor of Gray, the 25-year-old who died in police custody on April 19.
All times ET.
10:00 p.m. – ‘All is quiet’ after previous protests
“All is quiet on our side of Baltimore,” tweeted Jim Lokay of Fox 5 in Washington, D.C.
Lokay and other journalists report the city is currently enjoying relative calm.
9:45 p.m. – ‘Peaceful passionate protest’ at city hall
Protesters gathered at Baltimore City Hall. A photojournalist for WTTG, Washington’s Fox outlet, described the gathering as a “peaceful passionate protest.”
Approaching 10 p.m., CNN reports that protests have quieted, logging no further arrests beyond the two occurring earlier in the day.
9:15 p.m. – Live Twitter updates
Follow live Twitter updates from Media General national correspondents Alex Schuman and Mark Meredith, reporting from Baltimore.
Tweets by @MEGNational8:45 p.m. – Police tamp down shooting rumors
Baltimore police corrected rumors floating around that law enforcement had shot a protester.
Buzzfeed reporter Brandon Wall tweeted that the suspect in question was pursued after a reported robbery and shooting, and sustained non-life threatening injuries.
8:00 p.m. – Social justice
Protesters call for more police oversight in the same location of a burned out CVS that rioters torched during spring protests stemming from Gray’s death.
Media General National Correspondent Mark Meredith reports 50 to 60 protesters are on hand, with policy standing by.
7:00 p.m. – Protesters clash with media
Media covering the Baltimore protests encountered pushback from demonstrators, who questioned their presence and coverage.
Protesters decry mistrial
Protests began peacefully, with marchers moving through the streets and chanting “All night, all day, we will fight for Freddie Gray.”
One such rally occurred at the juvenile justice center, where protesters told reporters a 16-year-old named Melvin was being wrongly held.
Protester arrested at courthouse
A protester was taken into custody outside the courthouse where the Freddie Gray case was heard, reportedly for using a bullhorn that disturbed the peace. Prior to the arrest, WUSA’s Ellison Barber reports that law enforcement had declared the demonstration unlawful.
Mayor, police welcome lawful protests
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appeared with Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, saying that lawful protests would be allowed.
Rawlings-Balke also tweeted on behalf of city leaders, “We will protect our neighborhoods, our businesses and the people of our city” from destructive protests.
The Baltimore Sun posted the full press conference video.
Gray family urges calm
Freddie Gray’s family immediately urged calm on Baltimore streets in a statement.
According to ABC News, Gray’s stepfather, Richard Shipley, said:
We are not at all upset with them and neither should the public be upset. They did the best that they could… We ask the public to remain calm, patient, because we have confidence there will be another trial with a different jury. We are calm, you should be calm too…
Judge declares mistrial
Baltimore police officer William Porter stood trial for involuntary manslaughter in the case of Freddie Gray.
After three days of deliberations, the jury informed the judge they could not reach a unanimous verdict. As a result, the judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday afternoon, giving prosecutors the option to try the case again or drop the charges.
Porter was the first of six Baltimore Police Department officials charged in the Gray case. Gray, 25, died after an arrest after which he was reportedly given a so-called unrestrained “rough ride” in the police van and requested, but did not receive, medical attention. He died of a broken neck.
