The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after being taken into custody by Baltimore police.
Gray was hospitalized after police officers chased him down and tackled him. He died a week later, and his autopsy showed he had injuries to his spinal cord. In a video of the arrest, Gray can be heard screaming.
{mosads}“The Department of Justice has been monitoring the developments in Baltimore, MD, regarding the death of Freddie Gray,” a Justice Department representative said in a statement. “Based on preliminary information, the Department of Justice has officially opened this matter and is gathering information to determine whether any prosecutable civil rights violation occurred.”
Police officials have said they have seen “no evidence” of “any use of a force” against Gray.
“We have no evidence — physical, video or statements — of any use of force,” a police official said Monday, according to The New York Times. “He did suffer a very tragic injury to his spinal cord, which resulted in his death. What we don’t know, and what we need to get to, is how that injury occurred.”
They did say the police officers on the scene should have been quicker to call medical personnel.
Six officers have been suspended in relation to the case.
Under Attorney General Eric Holder, the Justice Department has been aggressive about pursuing police departments around the country for federal civil rights violations.