6 Arrested During Freddie Gray Unrest Sue Baltimore Police
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Arrested, cleared and now they're suing. It all stems from incidents during the Freddie Gray unrest a year ago.
Alex DeMetrick reports six men are suing nearly two dozen Baltimore City police officers.
According to their lawyers, the six men suing were all cleared of criminal charges.
When protests over the death of Freddie Gray flared into rioting last year, a citywide curfew was put into place.
Six men arrested during that curfew are now suing Baltimore City police.
"The law itself did not put anyone on notice as to whether they could be arrested or whether they were subject to any punishment whatsoever," said Jason Downs, Murphy Law Firm.
"All six of these men were arrested baselessly. There was no evidence of any wrongdoing," said Billy Murphy, Murphy Law Firm.
Larry Lomax is one of those suing. His pepper spraying went viral.
Lomax and five others--two of whom were not near trouble spots--were never convicted on curfew or any other charges. They're alleging illegal arrests and excessive police force.
Billy Murphy's law firm is representing them.
"This is improper police conduct and that these men had no business being arrested and they need justice," said Murphy.
The six are seeking damages of $75,000 each from all 23 officers listed as defendants, plus another $75,000 each on ten specific counts.
Because of the suit, police declined to speak with WJZ -- but it certainly can't be much of a surprise -- not after Murphy secured $6.4 million in damages from the city for Freddie Gray's death.
"But we're big boys and girls, and we can distinguish between this case and the cases of the future," said George Nilson, Baltimore City solicitor.
A future that's just beginning to arrive now.
"We have many, many more of these cases. This is by no means the exception to the rule," said Murphy.
Just how many cases was not specified.
None of the suits filed this week involve the police officers facing criminal charges in the death of Freddie Gray.
