Judge Drops One Charge in Freddie Gray Police Trial

BALTIMORE (AP) - A judge has dropped an assault charged against a police officer charged in the death of a black man injured in a police transport van.
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams on Monday dismissed the second-degree assault charge against Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
Rice still faces charges of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and one misconduct charge. A second misconduct charge was dropped when the trial began last week.
Williams dropped the assault charge after the prosecution rested its case and Rice's lawyers asked for the judge to acquit him.
The judge said the prosecution's basis for the assault charge was that Rice used the van in the alleged assault. Williams ruled that because Rice didn't drive the van, prosecutors had no evidence.