'Protests are a vital part of democracy': Freddie Gray case continues as another officer is found innocent

'People were quiet . There were a few people shaking their heads, some people who were emotionless.'

When 25-year-old Freddie Gray's spine was nearly severed as he was dragged into a police van last April, the city of Baltimore erupted - and it might just flare up again.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - On April 12, 2015, Gray ran from officers when they attempted to arrest him.

When officers finally caught him, they dragged him into a police van, where his spine was nearly severed after they threw him in the back of the vehicle.

His hands and feet were tied and he was not seated or secured with a seat belt after his injury. Doctors explained Gray's injury was consistent with someone who dove head-first into too-shallow waters.

He died later that week while in a coma.

The city of Baltimore rioted and even began to loot stores and wreak havoc. School trips were postponed or canceled, a city-wide curfew was enforced and demands to stop police brutality could be heard everywhere.

Edward Nero, the arresting officer, was declared "not guilty" of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct.

According to CBS Baltimore, officer Caesar Goodson, who drove the police van in which Gray's injury occurred, was found not guilty of second-degree "depraved heart" murder.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams found Goodson not guilty of manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Williams' decision heavily relied on what is called a "rough ride," a term Judge Williams failed to define but brings to mind legal carelessness on the part of police officers when transporting suspects.

After the verdict was announced, protesters outside the courthouse erupted in chants of "Murderer!" while people within the courtroom "were quiet ... There were a few people shaking their heads, some people who were emotionless."

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake released a statement following the verdict, in part reading: "Now that the criminal case has come to an end, Officer Goodson will face an administrative review by the Police Department. We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion.

"I am proud that we as a community have come together to move forward over the past year. I know that the citizens of Baltimore will continue to respect the judicial process and the ruling of the court."

The mayor's statement fell on deaf ears as the community lashed out.

Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP, stated: "Everybody in Baltimore that lives in certain neighborhoods know exactly the definition of what a rough ride is. ...A lot of them don't die. But in this case, Freddie Gray is dead, and no one will pay for it.

"There is a long tradition, an ugly tradition of rough rides. There's a long tradition of a very troubled police department, and so the fact of the matter is this is a tragedy not found to be a crime by a judge, but it is a wake-up call to the city of Baltimore ... that police department has got to be upended."

Goodson is the third of six officers charged in relation to Gray's death. Nero was found not guilty, Officer William Porter ended in a hung jury and mistrial in December and will be retired in September. The remaining officers have yet to be tried.

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