BALTIMORE (AP) - The trial for an officer facing criminal misdemeanor charges stemming from the arrest and death of a young black prisoner whose neck was broken in the back of a police van is scheduled to begin.
Officer Garrett Miller faces assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges stemming from the arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray.
Gray died April 19, 2015, a week after his neck was broken in the back of a transport wagon. Prosecutors say Miller illegally arrested Gray without probable cause, and was criminally negligent when he failed to buckle Gray into a seatbelt.
Miller has chosen a bench trial.
Miller is the fifth officer to stand trial. Three others were acquitted and one will be retried in September after a mistrial last year.
