As we reported last week, Maryland State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby indicted six Baltimore police officers for their role in the death of Freddie Gray, stating at the time that the arrest of Gray wasn’t legal because the knife he was carrying wasn’t actually illegal:
Knife found on Freddie Gray was not a switchblade and therefore legal. Gray was illegally arrested according to state 's atty
— Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) May 1, 2015
But…
Investigators from the Baltimore Police Department are pushing back on what Mosby declared at her news conference and are saying that the knife was illegal and in violation of a “Baltimore code”:
Mosby said #FreddieGray knife was not a switchblade, invalidating arrest. Police maintain it was (19th paragraph) http://t.co/rZtxMd1KiT
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) May 5, 2015
Meanwhile, a police investigation continues as Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby builds her case. The separate investigations by police and prosecutors have some conflicting findings.
While Mosby said Friday that the officers had made an illegal arrest because a knife Gray was carrying was not a “switchblade,” a violation of state law, the police task force studied the knife and determined it was “spring-assisted,” which does violate a Baltimore code.
So one of the major pillars of the case is being questioned, but it’s being reported in 19th paragraph of an article about a different incident in Baltimore? What other discrepancies are there?
And who is right?
@justin_fenton why don't they just state the model of knife or show it? This shouldn't be a mystery.
— The New Normal (@DieInTheGulch) May 5, 2015
.@ThBaltimoreChop A lot of things will be a mystery until trial. The autopsy details – which seem crucial – still unknown
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) May 5, 2015
@justin_fenton not quite sure of the Baltimore city code, I often carry an open assist as I've confirmed it doesn't violate Maryland law.
— josephdurnal (@josephdurnal) May 5, 2015
@lombardpratt @justin_fenton Jesus. By this 'spring assisted' is v. Misleading. I'm a seaman and every knife I've owned has been 'SA'
— The New Normal (@DieInTheGulch) May 5, 2015
@josephdurnal here is the city code. I guess it could be spring or any assisting device to open/close @justin_fenton pic.twitter.com/s8xec2E952
— Sarah (@outintherain84) May 5, 2015
But this isn’t the only issue to pop up. It seems that Mosby’s office listed the wrong people in the arrest documents, leading to embarrassing calls from the media:
Biased AND inept! LOL!—->Freddie Gray arrest documents drawn up for wrong people http://t.co/Hem3tgYbwF
— ??❌iGinger❌?? ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@MrsFreedomFirst) May 5, 2015
https://twitter.com/davidbrehan/status/595510727948906496
Wow. Just wow. Read this.http://t.co/G4iekoFe6Q
— Steve Cox (@RealSteveCox) May 5, 2015
Wow, pretty sloppy and very dangerous by Baltimore State's Attorney's Office & Baltimore Sheriff's Office. #Baltimorehttp://t.co/6IIKTrj18w
— TR (@Irishlad72) May 5, 2015
When charges were announced Friday against Alicia White for the death of Freddie Gray, her phone started buzzing from journalists and bail bondsmen.
The problem was, they were calling the wrong Alicia White. The elementary school cafeteria manager from East Baltimore was not the Baltimore Police sergeant charged with manslaughter in the high-profile police custody death – even though court records listed her.
And…
An attorney for Lt. Brian Rice said his client’s information was also entered incorrectly when prosecutors filed charges, but declined further comment.
On Friday evening, Tammy and Brian Rice of Brunswick, Md. said they were receiving multiple calls from reporters looking for the lieutenant. Brian Rice of Brunswick is a plumber, they said.
The Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, which assisted the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office in charging the officers, declined to comment and referred questions to prosecutors, who could not immediately be reached.
Amateur hour.
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