Page 9 - AAA 9 SEPT 2015

U.S. NEWS A7
Wednesday 9 September

City says it reached $6.4M settlement with Freddie Gray family

the Board of Estimates liability on the part of the between the citizens of
should not be interpreted city, its police department Baltimore and elected of-
as a judgment on the guilt or any of the officers. The ficials.
or innocence of the of- settlement has nothing “It’s a big step toward a
ficers facing trial,” Mayor whatsoever to do with the different type of policing,”
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake criminal proceedings, the Colbert said, “and a rela-
said in a news release. press release said. tionship with the communi-
Rawlings-Blake refused to Douglas Colbert, a pro- ty that deters misconduct.”
comment further on Tues- fessor at the University In July, New York City set-
day at an unrelated news of Maryland Francis King tled for $5.9 million with
conference. Carey Law School, said the family of Eric Garner,
The settlement does not re- the settlement is a step in an unarmed black man
solve any factual disputes, restoring the public’s faith who died after being put
and expressly does not in local government and in a white police officer’s
constitute an admission of mending the relationship chokehold.q

Family members of Freddie Gray, sister Fredricka Gray, left,

mother Gloria Darden, center, and stepfather Richard Shipley

listen during a news conference in Baltimore. Gray’s parents

reached a tentative $6.4 million settlement with the city of

Baltimore. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

JULIET LINDERMAN Gray’s death.
Associated Press Gray’s spine was injured
BALTIMORE (AP) — The April 12 in the back of a
parents of Freddie Gray prisoner transport van af-
reached a tentative $6.4 ter he was arrested. Gray,
million settlement with the a black man, died at the
city of Baltimore, nearly hospital a week later. In the
five months after their aftermath, Gray became
25-year-old son was criti- a symbol of the conten-
cally injured in police cus- tious relationship between
tody, sparking days of pro- the police and the public
tests and rioting. in Baltimore, as well as the
The deal, announced treatment of black men by
Tuesday, appeared to be police in America.
among the largest settle- The settlement still needs
ments in police death the approval of a board
cases in recent years and that oversees city spend-
happened just days before ing. That board will meet
a judge is set to decide Wednesday morning.
whether to move a trial “The proposed settlement
for six officers charged in agreement going before

Doctor pleads not guilty for
touching young girl on plane

MICHAEL TARM as part of the airline’s un-
Associated Press accompanied-minor pro-
CHICAGO (AP) — A Paki- gram. The girl sent frantic
stani physician pleaded text messages from the
not guilty Tuesday to alle- plane to her mother, ex-
gations that he inappropri- plaining that a man had
ately touched a girl seated touched her genitals and
next to him on an Ameri- that she could not escape
can Airlines flight from New because the seat belt light
York City to Chicago. was on, according to the
Muhammad Asif Chaudhry federal complaint.
is accused of moving from “I want to get away,” one
his assigned seat to a seat text said. A few seconds
next to the Iowa girl, who later, she added, “Mom-
was traveling alone in July my, I’m scared.”q