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No Federal Charges Against Baltimore Officers in Freddie Gray Case

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BALTIMORE (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice won't bring federal charges against six police officers involved in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, a young black man whose death touched off weeks of protests and unrest in Baltimore.

The officers were charged by state prosecutors after Gray's neck was broken in the back of a police transport wagon in April of 2015. The 25-year-old was handcuffed and shackled at the time, but he was unrestrained by a seat belt.

Three officers were acquitted at trial. Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby dropped the remaining state cases.

The Gray family's attorney, Billy Murphy, says the Justice Department informed him on Tuesday that no charges would be filed.

Five officers face internal disciplinary trials, scheduled to begin Oct. 30.

Baltimore Violence Reaches New Heights

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State Senator Nathaniel McFadden (D-Md)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Baltimore's rising violence has reached such a high level of concern that a Maryland Senate panel brought together local officials and experts to focus on how to reduce to bloodshed.

State Sen. Nathaniel McFadden told lawmakers Tuesday that when "all hell breaks loose" as it has Maryland's largest city, "the whole state has a problem." The Baltimore Democrat called on his colleagues to work together, because the problems Baltimore is facing are coming to other parts of the state.

Homicides and overdoses are threatening new records in the city. There have been 245 homicides so far this year, compared to 214 at this time last year.

Gov. Larry Hogan last month announced plans for legislation to tighten sentencing for violent criminals to help quell the crime surge.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.