The Latest: Commissioner: Police are peacekeepers


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BALTIMORE (AP) — The latest on the trial of a police officer accused in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who suffered a spinal injury in the back of a transport van (all times local):

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7 p.m.

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis says his department is prepared for any unrest that may arise in connection with the first of many trials of six officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray. But he also says the department's goal is not to make any arrests.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Davis said the police presence "isn't an enforcement presence, it's a peace-keeping presence."

Davis says police handled the riots that broke out after Gray's death last year "more like an art form than a science."

He says there is a science, "planning and logistics," to dealing with unrest and the department has learned better how to employ it.

The commissioner says police are "going to make a lot of people proud about how far we've come as a police department in terms of our capacity, as well as our emotional capacity, to handle civil disturbance."

Jury selection began Monday and continued Tuesday in the trial of William Porter.

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6:10 p.m.

Following protests online, CNN removed a description of Baltimore's Freddie Gray as "the son of an illiterate heroin addict" in a story posted about the first police officer about to go on trial in Gray's death.

Several tweets suggested that the reference amounted to victim blaming. Gray, who is black, died after being driven around in a police van in a case that drew wide attention to the issue of police treatment of minorities.

The print story, originally posted Monday, was changed that evening to remove the description of Gray's mother. In an editor's note, CNN said the reference was deleted "because it appeared out of context."

CNN had no comment on Tuesday about the change. Gray is described in both versions of the story as a symbol of the black community's distrust of police.

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5:30 p.m.

A court spokeswoman says a jury will be seated Wednesday for the manslaughter trial of a Baltimore police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Spokeswoman Terri Charles also said Tuesday that opening statements in the trial of William Porter could be heard as early as Wednesday.

She says selection of the 12 jurors and several alternates, as well as the trial, will be held in a Baltimore circuit courthouse across the street from the one in which preliminary selection proceedings were held Monday and Tuesday.

Porter is charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Gray was a 25-year-old black man who died of a critical spinal injury he suffered on April 12 in the back of a police van.

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2:35 p.m.

Jury selection has resumed for the trial of William Porter, one of six Baltimore police officers facing criminal charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray.

After a lunch recess Tuesday, Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams called more potential jurors into a private conference room for individual questioning. They are among 75 who reported for duty, the second such group in two days.

Sixty-eight of the prospective jurors Tuesday were slated for individual interviews after indicating they might have some sort of bias or medical or personal issue that could disqualify them from service.

Some of the potential jurors screened Monday and Tuesday will advance to another round of the process Wednesday. Court spokeswoman Terri Charles says the jury of 12, plus several alternates, may be chosen that day.

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11:10 a.m.

A judge will begin calling potential jurors into a conference room one by one during the second day of jury selection in the trial of Officer William Porter.

He is one of six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died of a spinal injury he suffered in custody.

On Tuesday, Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams questioned a pool of about 75 prospective jurors, and 46 indicated that they have been a victim of or suspect in a crime, been incarcerated or have criminal charges pending against them. Two potential jurors said they personally knew Gray, while 14 people indicated that they have family members who work in law enforcement.

On Monday, Williams individually interviewed more than 60 potential jurors. Williams told the prospective jurors in the pool of 75 to return to court on Wednesday unless notified in the interim that they have been dismissed.

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This story corrects the time of the first item to a.m., not p.m.

9:50 a.m.

Jury selection has entered its second day in the trial of William Porter, one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams is bringing in a second set of about 75 prospective jurors Tuesday after questioning a group of similar size Monday. Court spokeswoman Terri Charles says some members from both groups will be brought back Wednesday.

Porter is charged with manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

Gray was a 25-year-old black man who died of a critical spinal injury he suffered on April 12 in the back of a police van.

Prosecutors say Porter failed to render aid to Gray, who repeatedly asked for medical attention.

His death prompted widespread protests and rioting.

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