Jury Selection In Ofc. Caesar Goodson, Jr.'s Trial In Freddie Gray Case Scheduled
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Monday afternoon, we learned jury selection for the next officer to go on trial in the death of Freddie Gray will start a few days later than expected. There's also a continuing focus on prosecuting those who destroyed property in the riots that followed Gray's death.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren has more on how this is impacting the release of video from the unrest.
The MTA refuses to release the images from its cameras here, citing ongoing cases, a sign that city and federal prosecutors are continuing to investigate those who caused so much damage back in April.
It's been five months since Baltimore City released hours of video and audio from the riots, but the MTA has yet to do the same---denying the Baltimore Sun's request---saying State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's office asked that video be withheld because of open investigations.
Those investigations could also include federal prosecutions. There have been a handful of people charged in the unrest, including a teenager caught setting fires at Penn North.
"It's very important for the city to recognize that when people commit violent attacks like this, they're going to be held responsible," said ATF Special Agent Dave Cheplak. "People just don't have a license to go wild and do whatever it is they want."
The MTA has an extensive camera network---both at Mondawmin and at the Penn North station---that could show how all the unrest unfolded April 27, including people trapped at the Penn North station.
"Cameras don't lie. Cameras tell everything so I think they should release it," said Elva Gilmore.
The MTA will also not release video from the Penn North metro on April 12, when the police van carrying a severely injured Freddie Gray stopped nearby.
The trial of the van's driver, Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., is just weeks away. Jury selection now starts on January 11.
The pretrial motions will be heard on January 6. A new order laid out the strict guidelines for media and observers, which are similar to those for the trial for Officer William Porter.
