Attorneys in Freddie Gray Case Drop Bombshell Claim About Evidence They Say Was Withheld by Prosecution

BALTIMORE (AP) — Attorneys for the six police officers charged in Freddie Gray’s death say prosecutors steered investigators away from allegations about Gray’s behavior in past interactions with law enforcement. The attorneys claim detectives were told Gray had a history of participating in “crash-for-cash” schemes in which people hurt themselves to collect settlements – a piece of information attorneys say would be useful for their case.

Gray died on April 19, a week after suffering a critical spinal injury in the back of a police van. Gray’s death spurred days of largely peaceful protests followed by rioting and looting last April 27.


Six officers were charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanor assault to “depraved-heart” murder.

As we have reported, the defense is trying to get the venue moved outside of Baltimore because they feel the the jury pool may be tainted.

In a motion filed Thursday in Baltimore Circuit Court, defense attorneys allege that investigators for the Baltimore Police Department had information that Gray had a history of intentionally injuring himself in order to collect insurance money. The attorneys say in documents that when police investigators tried to follow up on the evidence, prosecutors in the state’s attorney’s office told them “not to do the defense attorneys’ jobs for them.”

Defense attorneys also say in the motion that high-ranking members of the state’s attorney’s office met with Dr. Carole Allen of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner a week before Gray’s autopsy was complete and his death ruled a homicide. In addition, attorneys say the prosecutors didn’t provide the medical examiner’s office with a copy of the statement of Donta Allen, a man who had been inside the police van where Gray suffered his injury. Investigators initially said Allen told them that Gray had been making banging noises in the back of the van. But Allen later told the media that police had exaggerated his account.

Source Associated Press