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First officer on trial in Freddie Gray's death takes stand in his own defense First officer on trial in Freddie Gray's death takes stand in his own defense
(about 17 hours later)
William Porter, the first police officer to be tried in the death of Freddie Gray, took the stand in his own defense today in what proved to be a tense afternoon of testimony. William Porter, the first police officer to be tried in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, took the stand in his own defense on Wednesday in what proved to be a tense afternoon of testimony.
Defense attorney Gary Proctor directed Porter’s testimony to show that he was a good, responsible cop who did everything required of him even in conditions that weren’t ideal, while Michael Schatzow’s cross examination tried to present Porter as inconsistent and unreliable, following some lines of questioning that seemed intended to do nothing more than frustrate the defendant on the stand. Defense attorney Gary Proctor directed Porter’s testimony to show that he was a good, responsible cop who did everything required of him even in conditions that were not ideal, while Michael Schatzow’s cross examination tried to present Porter as inconsistent and unreliable, following some lines of questioning that seemed intended to do nothing more than frustrate the defendant on the stand.
Related: Freddie Gray needed a medic but officer says he did not knowRelated: Freddie Gray needed a medic but officer says he did not know
Porter had pled not guilty to manslaughter and other charges stemming from 12 April, when Gray suffered from what proved to be a fatal spinal cord injury after being arrested that morning near the Gilmor Homes housing projects in the West Baltimore neighborhood of Sandtown-Winchester. Porter had pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and other charges stemming from 12 April, when Gray suffered from what proved to be a fatal spinal cord injury after being arrested that morning near the Gilmor Homes housing projects in the West Baltimore neighborhood of Sandtown-Winchester.
According to his testimony, Porter was familiar with the neighborhood, and his primary concern in that initial encounter and in the van’s second stop about a block away, was crowd control. “I turned around from the van just to do more crowd control,” he testified. “Trying to get them to calm down, if I can get them to leave.”According to his testimony, Porter was familiar with the neighborhood, and his primary concern in that initial encounter and in the van’s second stop about a block away, was crowd control. “I turned around from the van just to do more crowd control,” he testified. “Trying to get them to calm down, if I can get them to leave.”
He said he did not know which of his fellow officers put Gray into the back of the van because of his focus on the crowd, many members of which knew him from foot patrol in the community. He described the events of the day as “very traumatic, because of being in the neighborhood every day”.He said he did not know which of his fellow officers put Gray into the back of the van because of his focus on the crowd, many members of which knew him from foot patrol in the community. He described the events of the day as “very traumatic, because of being in the neighborhood every day”.
“Freddie Gray and I weren’t friends, but we had a mutual respect for each other,” Porter said of Gray. “I had a job to do and he did things but we built a rapport.”“Freddie Gray and I weren’t friends, but we had a mutual respect for each other,” Porter said of Gray. “I had a job to do and he did things but we built a rapport.”
He demonstrated to the court how he helped Gray up off the floor of the van and not the bench, and said that in the 150 arrests in which he had been involved, no seatbelt had been used. He demonstrated to the court how he helped Gray up off the floor of the van and on to the bench, and said that in the 150 arrests in which he had been involved, no seatbelt had been used.
According to Porter, he did everything Gray asked of him. “He just asked me to help him on the bench and I helped him on the bench.”According to Porter, he did everything Gray asked of him. “He just asked me to help him on the bench and I helped him on the bench.”
He testified that he told both the van driver, officer Ceasar Goodson, and both of the arresting officers that Gray needed to be taken to the hospital – if only to save time when Central Booking would refuse him because of an injury. “We’re efficient,” he said on cross-examination. He testified that he told both the van driver, officer Caesar Goodson, and both of the arresting officers that Gray needed to be taken to the hospital – if only to save time when Central Booking would refuse him because of an injury. “We’re efficient,” he said on cross-examination.
But, he said it felt like “an eternity” between the time they discovered Gray unconscious in the back of the van with a mucus around his mouth and the time the medics arrived.But, he said it felt like “an eternity” between the time they discovered Gray unconscious in the back of the van with a mucus around his mouth and the time the medics arrived.
During the recess for lunch, Porter walked the halls of the courtroom, looking almost cheerful, but his demeanor had changed dramatically by the end of cross examination, when he sat at one point holding his head in his hand, while officer Zachary Novak, the only officer involved in the incidents of the day who was not charged, testified. During the recess for lunch, Porter walked the halls of the courtroom, looking almost cheerful, but his demeanor had changed dramatically by the end of cross-examination, when he sat at one point holding his head in his hand, while officer Zachary Novak, the only officer involved in the incidents of the day who was not charged, testified.
The prosecution came across aggressively, trying to show that Porter had changed his story since the initial investigations.The prosecution came across aggressively, trying to show that Porter had changed his story since the initial investigations.
Among the sticking points was evidence presented by detective Syreeta Teal, the initial investigator, which said that Gray told Porter he could not breathe at the van’s fourth stop. Porter testified Wednesday that the only time he heard Gray say he couldn’t breathe was when he was first arrested at Gilmor Homes.Among the sticking points was evidence presented by detective Syreeta Teal, the initial investigator, which said that Gray told Porter he could not breathe at the van’s fourth stop. Porter testified Wednesday that the only time he heard Gray say he couldn’t breathe was when he was first arrested at Gilmor Homes.
When the prosecution reminded Porter that he initially said he heard yelling, Porter said forcefully: “You can yell ‘I can’t breathe’”. When the prosecution reminded Porter that he initially said he heard yelling, Porter said forcefully: “You can yell ‘I can’t breathe’.”
Michael Schatzow suggested for the prosecution that Porter said he could not see who put Gray into the van because of a “stop snitching” culture in the police department.Michael Schatzow suggested for the prosecution that Porter said he could not see who put Gray into the van because of a “stop snitching” culture in the police department.
“‘I’m actually offended you would say something like that,” Porter said to Schatzow. “I said their names,” he added, sounding exasperated.“‘I’m actually offended you would say something like that,” Porter said to Schatzow. “I said their names,” he added, sounding exasperated.