Baltimore prosecutors drop all remaining charges in Freddie Gray case

BALTIMORE — Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped all charges against the three officers awaiting trial in the Freddie Gray case, effectively closing the books on the matter and leaving the state without a conviction in the 25-year-old's arrest and death, which sparked protests and riots in the city last year.

The move came in a hearing that was supposed to mark the beginning of trial against Officer Garrett Miller, the fifth officer to be tried in the case. Prosecutor Michael Schatzow told Judge Barry G. Williams that the state would dismiss all charges against Miller, as well as Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter, who were set for trial in the coming months.

Prosecutors charged six officers in Gray's arrest and death. Three were recently acquitted on all charges following bench trials. Porter's case in December ended in a hung jury.

Police arrested Gray the morning of April 12, 2015, after he fled from officers on bike patrol. Officers shackled Gray's wrists and legs and loaded him into a police transport van without seat-belting him. At some point during the ride to jail, Gray fell and suffered a severe neck injury. He died in the hospital a week later.

Gray's death became a flashpoint in national debate over the deaths of black men in police custody.