BALTIMORE (AP) - A judge has ruled that all six Baltimore police officers charged in connection with Freddie Gray's death will be tried separately.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams denied the state's motions to try three of the officers as a group. He said evidence against any of the three is not mutually admissible and "not in the interest of justice."
Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died a week after sustaining injuries following his arrest on April 12.
His death sparked riots and unrest in Baltimore for days following his funeral.
The trial for all six officers was initially set for Oct. 13. Dates for the new trials have not yet been set.
Protester Arrested
BALTIMORE (AP) - A protester arrested amid demonstrations in downtown Baltimore during a pretrial hearing in the Freddie Gray case has been released.
Online court records show that 21-year-old Darius Kwame Rosebrough of Baltimore was released Thursday, a day after his arrest.
Rosebrough is better known as Kwame Rose, an activist who gained attention when he confronted Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera about coverage of demonstrations after Gray's death.
Online court records show Rosebrough is charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and resisting or interfering with an arrest. Video of the arrest shows him saying he was hit by a car and needs a medic. Police say he wasn't hit by a car or shocked, but an officer pulled a stun gun on him.
Police say Rosebrough kicked an officer in the face.
Batts Admits Failings
EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) - Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts says the police department failed to improve public trust under his leadership.
Batts discussed his tenure and July firing during a panel Wednesday evening at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg.
The Frederick News-Post reports Batts told the crowd other crime metrics were improving last year, but he believes the department didn't pay attention to "warning signs" in its relationship with the public.
Batts was fired as the city saw a major increase in violent crime following Gray's death in April from a broken neck he suffered in police custody. His death led to widespread protests and some rioting.
Batts also discussed the "embarrassment" that came along with being fired.
He declined to comment to a reporter after the panel.
