DALTIMORE, Md. (AP) - A Baltimore police captain says officer William Porter did nothing wrong and even went above and beyond his responsibilities as an assisting officer on the day that Freddie Gray's neck was broken in the back of a transport wagon.
Capt. Justin Reynolds, testifying as an expert witness in police training and policies, noted that Porter assisted Gray from the wagon floor to the bench, asked him if he needed medical help and suggested that wagon driver Caesar Goodson take him to the hospital. He said Porter's actions "go beyond what many officers would have done."
Porter is on trial facing manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges stemming from Gray's death on April 19, a week after he was injured in the transport wagon. Prosecutors say Porter was criminally negligent for ignoring departmental policy requiring officers to seat belt prisoners, and for failing to call a medic immediately after Gray indicated he needed aid.
Earlier three character witnesses testifying in the manslaughter trial of Baltimore police officer William Porter say he is an honest, truthful and peaceful man.
They were the first witnesses called Friday, the 10th day of Porter's trial and the third day of defense testimony.
Prosecutors say Porter, who also is black, was criminally negligent for ignoring policy requiring officers to put prisoners in seat belts and for failing to call a medic immediately after Gray indicated he needed aid.
Baltimore police officers testifying yesterday say officers rarely put seat belts on people they transport in the department's wagons.
Officer Michael Wood told jurors that of the roughly 100 arrests he's been a party to, he's never belted in a prisoner or observed another officer buckling in a detainee.
