• U.S.

Why Charges in the Freddie Gray Case Came Quickly

4 minute read

The charges brought against six Baltimore officers involved in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray on Friday came just a day after police turned over their investigation to the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office. And experts say the swift nature of the charges likely reflects the strength of the case against the officers involved.

While several high-profile police-related deaths have not seen indictments—like in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, both of whom died after confrontations with police—the charges brought against Baltimore police were extensive and came rapidly.

That’s a sign there’s likely very strong evidence to prosecute. “In my experience, prosecutors do not bring cases they plan to lose,” says Phillip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University. “It seems to me that the facts of this case are so egregious that the prosecutor has a really strong case.”

Baltimore City’s State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby on Friday announced charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter and assault against six officers involved in Gray’s April 19 death, a week after he suffered a severe spinal injury inside a police van. Baltimore’s police union accused her of acting prematurely, with Michael Davey, lawyer for Baltimore’s Fraternal Order of Police, calling Mosby’s actions an “egregious rush to judgement.”

But the speed with which the charges were brought could also reflect decisions made by some of the officers involved to become potential state’s witnesses. Candace McCoy, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says that in many cases involving charges brought against multiple officers, there are often cops who offer to testify against their colleagues — though she emphasizes that it’s too soon to say whether that’s the case here.

McCoy praised Mosby’s decision to indict all six officers, however, instead of trying to bring charges against just one or two. She argues that the reason no charges were brought against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, who used an apparent chokehold against Garner that helped lead to his death, is because a grand jury was only considering one officer involved instead of several who were trying to detain Garner.

“It’s important that they’re indicting all the officers,” McCoy says. “Trying to convince a grand jury to indict just one person when the jury realizes all of them contributed is difficult. One person alone is not responsible for a death.”

It may also work in the prosecutor’s favor that a firearm wasn’t used in the Gray incident. Stinson, who tracks the number of police officers arrested and charged around the U.S., says officers are more likely to be convicted in on-duty deaths when the incident does not involve a firearm.

Of the 48 cases Stinson has tracked since 2005 involving police-related deaths without a firearm, 61% resulted in a conviction. But of the 54 officers prosecuted in a death without a firearm, only 20% have led to charges, according to data compiled and analyzed by Stinson and the Washington Post. Thirty-nine percent of officers were not convicted and 35% of cases are still pending.

The most serious charges in Gray’s death have been brought against Officer Caesar R. Goodson, Jr., who was the driver of the police van carrying Gray. Goodson has been charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and three counts of manslaughter. No gun was involved.

“Courts are very reluctant to second-guess split-second decisions by officers when a gun is involved,” Stinson says. “But in these other cases, it’s not as easily explainable and they’re not willing to give the benefit of the doubt because they’re oftentimes so egregious.”

See the Clashes in Baltimore After Freddie Gray's Funeral

A rioter stands atop a burning car as another man pours fuel onto the fire while Baltimore firefighters behind them fight fires in mutliple burning buildings set ablaze by rioters during clashes in Baltimore
A rioter stands atop a burning car as another man pours fuel onto the fire while Baltimore firefighters behind them fight fires in multiple burning buildings set ablaze by rioters during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jim Bourg—Reuters
Firefighters battle a blaze after riots in Baltimore
Firefighters battle a blaze after riots in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jerry Jackson—TNS /Landov
Protests in Baltimore After Funeral Held For Baltimore Man Who Died While In Police Custody
Two cars burn in the middle of an intersection during riots near New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Andrew Burton—Getty Images
Demonstrators Gather Outside Baltimore Police Station to Protest Death of Freddie Gray
Protestors and pedestrians walk down Pennsylvania Avenue as smoke from a nearby CVS on fire covers the area in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Noah Scialom—EPA
APTOPIX Suspect Dies Baltimore
A demonstrator raises his fist as police stand in formation as a store burns during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—AP
Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
US-POLICE-CRIME-RACISM
Police carry an injured officer from the streets near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images
A demonstrator looks up after being sprayed with pepper spray during clashes in Baltimore
A demonstrator looks up after being sprayed with pepper spray during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Shannon Stapleton—Reuters
A man walks past a burning police vehicle in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
A man walks past a burning police vehicle in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—AP
Police put out a fire while responding to people protesting after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Police put out a fire while responding to people protesting after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Michael Reynolds—EPA
Police officers arrest a man near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Police officers arrest a man near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Drew Angerer—Getty Images
Police officers use pepper spray against demonstrators after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Police officers use pepper spray against demonstrators after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jose Luis Magana—AP
Baltimore police officers tackle and arrest looters after they emerged from a "Deals" store with merchandise during clashes between rioters and police in Baltimore
Baltimore police officers tackle and arrest looters after they emerged from a "Deals" store with merchandise during clashes between rioters and police in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jim Bourg—Reuters
Demonstrators Gather Outside Baltimore Police Station to Protest Death of Freddie Gray
A protestor unrolls police caution tape on North Avenue and Fulton Street during a protest for the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Noah Scialom—EPA
A man hurls a rock at Baltimore police officers outside the Mondawmin Mall following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
A man hurls a rock at Baltimore police officers outside the Mondawmin Mall following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Police officers walk in formation on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015 .
Police officers walk in formation on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015 .Drew Angerer—Getty Images
Baltimore police officers form a line in front of protesters near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Baltimore police officers form a line in front of protesters near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images
A woman cries as demonstrators throw rocks at police officers during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
A woman cries as demonstrators throw rocks at police officers during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Shannon Stapleton—Reuters
Protesters surround a police officer near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Protesters surround a police officer near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Drew Angerer—Getty Images
Friends and relatives say their last goodbyes to Freddie Gray as his casket is lowered into his grave at the Woodland Cemetery in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Friends and relatives say their last goodbyes to Freddie Gray as his casket is lowered into his grave at the Woodland Cemetery in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
A pillow depicts the image of Freddie Gray inside his open casket during the funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
A pillow depicts the image of Freddie Gray inside his open casket during the funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Michael Reynolds—EPA
Gloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is comforted as she embraces his body before his funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Gloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is comforted as she embraces his body before his funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—AP
Gloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is embraced before her son's funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.
Gloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is embraced before her son's funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com