Baltimore, MD - July 18, 2016 -  A judge acquits Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking Baltimore City police officer charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray last year.

Rice is the fourth of six officers to go on trial in the Gray case. He faces manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges in connection with Gray's death. Prosecutors dropped the misconduct in office charge related to Gray's arrest and Judge Barry Williams dismissed the assault charge. The 25-year-old Gray died April 19, 2015, a week after he suffered a neck injury while in a police transport van.

Rice is the officer who initiated the pursuit of Gray when he and two others were walking in west Baltimore on April 12, 2015. Gray ran off after Rice made eye contact with him.

The prosecution argues Rice's decisions amount to a reckless disregard for Gray's life. On the other side, the defense argues Rice made a 9-second decision that was 100 percent reasonable based on Gray being combative, tight van quarters and a hostile crowd gathering.... Read More: WBAL