Judge declare mistrial in officer’s trial in Freddie Gray case

BALTIMORE — A Maryland judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the trial of Baltimore police officer William Porter, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of detainee Freddie Gray.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams issued the ruling after the jury of seven women and five men was unable to each a verdict after about 16 hours of deliberations.

"I do declare a mistrial," Williams said. He said an administrative judge would set a new trial date as early as Thursday.

Porter, who looked relieved after the ruling, said he would not appear at the scheduling hearing.

The panel said on Tuesday that it was deadlocked, but Williams told the jurors to keep trying to reach a verdict.

Porter is the first of six officers to be tried in Gray's death, from a broken neck suffered while he was transported in the back of a police van.

His death triggered protests, rioting and arson in the majority black city of 620,000 people and intensified a U.S. debate on police treatment of minorities.

Three of the six officers charged in Gray's death, including Porter, are black. Charges against the other officers range from second-degree murder for the van's driver, to misconduct.

Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Gray, 25, was arrested after fleeing from police. He was put in a transport van, shackled and handcuffed, but was not secured by a seat belt despite department policy to do so. He died a week later.

Porter, who was a backup officer, testified that Gray told him he needed medical aid. Porter told the van's driver and a supervisor that Gray had asked for aid but none was summoned, according to testimony.

The defense argued that Porter did not believe Gray was seriously injured until the van's final stop. His lawyers have said that Porter acted as any reasonable officer would have.

In contrast to the demonstrations in the days after Gray's death, the trial has drawn only a handful of protesters. On Wednesday about a half dozen were outside the courthouse, most from the People's Power Assembly, a local activist group.

Asked what she wanted from the Porter trial, demonstrator Julie MacGregor, 59, said: "He should be convicted and serve jail time."

She was carrying a sign that read: "Jobs Not Police Killings."