Advertisement Officer Caesar Goodson acquitted of all charges Judge Barry Williams hands down verdict Thursday morning Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Baltimore police Officer Caesar Goodson, who faced the most serious charges among the six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death, was acquitted Thursday on all counts.Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams announced his verdict Thursday morning on the following seven counts:Second-degree murder, depraved heart: NOT GUILTYManslaughter: NOT GUILTYSecond-degree assault: NOT GUILTYVehicular manslaughter (two counts): NOT GUILTYReckless endangerment: NOT GUILTYMisconduct in office: NOT GUILTYComplete coverage: Updates | Special section | Timeline | Officers charged | Charging documents | Who's whoWilliams said the state failed to prove evidence of a rough ride, that Goodson failed to get medical attention and that he failed to seat belt Gray. Williams said the state failed to prove on each charge that Goodson intentionally harmed Gray.Read: Transcript of Judge Barry Williams' ruling in the Goodson trialWilliams said Goodson didn't show any animosity toward Gray or even claimed to know him.Gray's mother and stepfather showed little emotion Thursday evening as family attorney Billy Murphy echoed their frustration at not only the not-guilty verdict, but Maryland's rule prohibiting cameras in courtrooms. Murphy thinks it affects the public's understanding of the case."The anger in this community is in part is based on the public's inability to know. I mean, only 150 people can fit into a courtroom in this town," Murphy said.Murphy ducked questions about Williams' reasoning and what evidence proves Goodson should not have been let free.The eight-day trial concluded with closing arguments Monday in front of a courtroom full of people, including Officer Edward Nero and Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Mosby, Nero and Officer Garrett Miller and their attorneys were also among the courtroom full of people Thursday when the verdict was announced.The state called a total of 22 witnesses, while the defense presented a truncated case, calling only nine witnesses during the trial. Nero was the surprise and final witness called on Friday by the defense testifying on behalf of Goodson, who chose not to testify.The state presented a "rough ride" theory which was eventually debunked by testimony from their own police expert witness and was further criticized during the defense's closing statements as a game of three-card Monte played by prosecutors in terms of their theories.In his ruling, Williams said the state failed to prove the "rough ride" theory, saying "rough ride" is an inflammatory term and the state needed to prove action and intent. Williams said police radio calls, CCTV showing some of the route traveled by the van, making a wide right turn and lack of excessive speed doesn't constitute a "rough ride."Williams said not one witness could define "rough ride." Only one witness gave an opinion on what it was.The timing of Gray's injury was also a point of contention during the trial. Prosecutors contended that the injury happened between stops three and four, while the defense said it happened afterwards at stop five.In his ruling, Williams said Gray's injuries were not outwardly visible like injuries from a "shooting or accident" and "not one medical expert" testified as such. The judge said Gray's injuries were part of "key issues here."Williams said officers, including Goodson, couldn't determine Gray's medical needs in stops two through five. The judge said the average officer wouldn't know what to look for since Gray's injuries were internal.Williams said Goodson failed to secure Gray with a seat belt at the fourth stop, but that didn't meet a level of criminal negligence. Williams said Goodson's failure to secure Gray with a seat belt at the fourth stop did not "constitute corruption"and with that the charge of misconduct in office wasn't justified.Williams said that at the third stop, 11 seconds was not enough time for Goodson to secure Gray with a seat belt or assess Gray's medical needs alone, especially since general orders require officers not to deal with prisoners alone. Goodson is the third of six Baltimore police officers to stand trial. The trial of Officer William Porter ended in December with a hung jury. Nero was found not guilty on all charges after his bench trial ended in May.Williams said he also relied heavily on Porter's testimony on what was communicated between he, Gray and Goodson. Williams said there was no evidence that Gray and Goodson spoke directly to each other.Williams emphasized the state's inability to prove beyond a reasonable doubt on all charges. He also cited the state's lack of evidence in many instances.Goodson remains suspended but pay has been reinstated, city police said.Meanwhile, the Maryland National Guard, city and suburban police departments were prepared to respond to potential unrest following the verdict announcements.Lt. Brian Rice goes on trial next, starting July 5. Miller will stand trial July 27. The retrial of Porter is scheduled Sept. 6. The sixth and final trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 13 for Sgt. Alicia White.All the officers but Goodson have filed defamation lawsuits against Mosby and Baltimore City Sheriff's Office Maj. Sam Cogen, who signed the charging documents. They claim their arrest was illegal because the commander didn't actually conduct the investigation into the officers.In an affidavit unsealed this week, Cogen wrote that he had no involvement in the investigation into the officers despite signing off on the application for statement of charges.Cogen claimed he believed probable cause existed based on what the State's Attorney's Office told him and not his own observations.A number of experts believed Baltimore prosecutors always faced an uphill battle getting criminal convictions against police officers."There's this tragic event and the state decides that someone has to be responsible criminally," attorney and courtroom observer Warren Brown said.Goodson is now a free man. A court gag order kept him from answering reporter's questions.The state failed to provide evidence supporting Goodson knew gray needed medical attention and didn't get it and the judge said he did not see sufficient evidence to confirm Goodson knew if he didn't seat belt Gray he would suffer injuries.Goodson is the third trial in which the state has not been able to win a conviction on any counts. There are four more trials scheduled."I think if poses a real challenge, real problems for the state," attorney and courtroom observer Warren Alperstein said.Williams is a former city prosecutor. He investigated and helped prosecute police misconduct cases for the U.S. Justice Department."You could not have a fairer person reviewing the case," Brown said."I commend the prosecutor for brining this case to the public's attention with the hope there will be reforms done," University of Maryland School of Law professor Doug Colbert said.Legal experts believe the acquittal will re shape the prosecutions strategy.Officials, community react to verdictBaltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis released a statement, saying, "As our city reacts to the verdict rendered today by Judge Williams, I am pleased by the peaceful manner our residents have chosen to express their diverse opinions. I have no doubt we will continue to exhibit behaviors that represent the very best of Baltimore."The Baltimore Police Department has taken many progressive steps to improve over the last year. We will continue to adopt and implement policing practices consistent with the expectations of our community."We all have a leadership role to play at this moment. Thank you for doing your part to sustain the momentum of our ongoing progress."Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a statement, saying, "Now that the criminal case has come to an end, Officer Goodson will face an administrative review by the Police Department. We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion. I am proud that we as a community have come together to move our city forward over the past year. I know that the citizens of Baltimore will continue to respect the judicial process and the ruling of the court."State Sen. Catherine Pugh released a statement on the verdict, saying, "I ask the citizens of Baltimore to continue to be patient as the process continues to move forward. Protests are a vital part of democracy, but to destroy the homes and businesses many people have worked very hard to build is unacceptable. Although people may disagree with the verdict, it is important to respect each other and to respect our neighborhoods and our communities."VIDEO: Protesters say judge's verdict sends tremendous messageU.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) also released a statement after the verdict."Three cases have been heard in the death of Mr. Freddie Gray, and throughout, Judge Barry G. Williams has shown himself to be a tough, fair adjudicator," Cummings said. "Today, after weighing the evidence presented by Mr. Goodson's defense attorneys and the prosecution, he found Mr. Goodson not guilty on all charges."I know that many of our neighbors will be disappointed and frustrated by today's verdict, and I understand those emotions. But we must continue to channel our energies into efforts to improve our city for all residents, and continue to improve our police department’s practices and procedures to ensure that the policing of our streets is conducted professionally, safely, and fairly in all parts of our city. Baltimore's future does not rest on the outcomes of the trials surrounding Mr. Freddie Gray's death. Baltimore’s future rests on every one of us."Baltimore City Delegate Curt Anderson said having the officers face charges in this case is how justice was served."In this case, the judge decided justice best served based on the facts that the officer is not guilty," Anderson said.Attorney Michael Glass represents some of the officers charged in Gray's death in a civil suit against Mosby. He said that there has been no evidence presented so far to prove the charges against them."The premise of (the civil suit) is that they were place in a false light," said Glass, who represents Porter and Sgt. Alicia White. "They were put on the national podium in a very negative way. They are looking to be compensated for lost wages and the mental pain and suffering they have endured."There was no evidence that any of the officers knew Freddie Gray was in medical distress until the final stop at the Western District. At that point medical assistance was immediately called for."Chuck Canterbury, the national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the verdict."We knew from the beginning that Officer Goodson was innocent and wrongly charged with these crimes," Canterbury said in a statement. "The outcome of today's trial just proves that Officer Goodson did everything by the book despite the false charges against him."It is terrible that in our country today that law enforcement officers doing their job the right way can still be falsely accused of misconduct and have their lives potentially ruined even though the facts were there from the beginning that no misconduct occurred. It is time to end this witch hunt that State's Attorney Mosby has been leading. She has disgraced her office and there should be charges of prosecutorial misconduct brought against her immediately."VIDEO: FOP calls on Mosby to drop charges against remaining officersLt. Gene Ryan, president of the Baltimore City FOP Lodge No. 3, released a statement, saying, "On behalf of the members of FOP Lodge No. 3, let me state that we are very pleased and extremely grateful that Judge Williams found Officer Caesar Goodson not guilty of all charges. As anticipated, the facts of the case speak for themselves. Officer Goodson was not at fault."While we agree with the verdict in the case against Officer Goodson, we also suggest that Mrs. Mosby reconsider her malicious prosecution against the remaining four officers. We are more certain that they, too, will be found to be without guilt. To continue this travesty is an insult to the taxpaying citizens of Baltimore who, at the end of the day, bear the full burden of the enormous cost of these trials that have no merit and continue to divide our city."FOP Lodge No. 3 is fully prepared to continue to represent the four remaining officers in this case for as long as is necessary; however, we urge Mrs. Mosby to do what is only right and proper by dropping the remaining charges against Lt. Rice, Sgt. White, and Officers Miller and Porter. The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office has been playing politics with our agency, making it extremely difficult for our members to continue to do the job that our citizens demand of them. She has done a disservice to our members, the city of Baltimore, and its citizens. There has been enough suffering."It is time to put this sad chapter behind us and to move forward in a positive manner. We must all come together to make Baltimore a safe place to work and raise a family."The Rev. C.D. Witherspoon said he was upset over the not guilty verdict."To say we're devastated by it is an understatement," Witherspoon said. "We feel that the criminal justice system has certainly failed us. And not just us as in one race of people but the entire city. The criminal justice system in Baltimore had the opportunity while the eye of the nation was watching that we oppose police terror. But, we have failed this city by this decision."WBAL-TV 11 News reporters David Collins, Barry Simms, Lisa Robinson and Jennifer Franciotti, wbaltv.com digital editor Ron Snyder and WBAL NewsRadio 1090 reporter Robert Lang contributed to this story.Get the WBAL-TV News App