F.O.P. Fully Supports Officers Involved In Freddie Gray Arrest
BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Protests over the death of Freddie Gray don't show any signs of letting up, spreading from West Baltimore to City Hall and beyond.
Christie Ileto was out with demonstrators marching.
The marchers went all across the city. They tried to stop traffic during rush hour and even get onto I-83.
The crowd is smaller, but just as emotional. Protestors span the city, at times, standing face-to-face with police.
"Pennsylvania Avenue, walked straight downtown Baltimore Street," one protestor said.
"We need to let them know that we're not going to stop until we get some justice and some peace," said Pastor Wesley West.
Freddie Gray was fatally injured while in police custody April 12.
"He was placed in the transport van. Whether he was seat belted in, is that what you're asking for? I don't believe he was," said FOP attorney Michael Davey.
Click here for the latest on the investigation into Freddie Gray's death.
His arrest is now being investigated by the Department of Justice.
"If we do not address these issues now, we will have these types of incidents going on every day," said Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, (D) 7th District.
"Freddie's life mattered. That was somebody's son, somebody's lover, somebody's friend. You didn't just disrupt a family, you disrupted a community," one protestor said.
The police union says the officers involved have been cooperative.
"The union is completely behind the officers. They still have their constitutional right to have their day in court," said FOP President Gene Ryan.
Five of the six officers voluntarily gave statements the night of the incident.
"Our position is something happened in that van, we just don't know what," said Davey.
"I don't want it to turn into a lynch mob," said Ryan.
FOP President Gene Ryan tries to clarify his words used in a written statement when he asked the public not to rush to judgment.
"Because when you're trying to put somebody in jail before all the facts are in, the investigation hasn't been completed, I mean, that's wrong," said Ryan.
"This has been going on for decades. Anthony Anderson, Tyrone West. It just seems to never stop," said protestor Steven Ceci.
But it's the lack of answers that leaves this community on edge.
The FOP says they support having working cameras in the backs of transport vans. Right now, there are cameras, but most of them are not operable. In fact, they don't even record.
Stay with WJZ and CBSBaltimore.com for complete coverage of the Freddie Gray investigation.
