A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.
From The Baltimore Sun: Bernie Sanders to Visit Baltimore Neighborhood where Freddie Gray Was Arrested
"Seeking to reach African Americans in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will visit Baltimore on Tuesday to tour the neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested.
"Sanders, who has lagged in polling behind former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will visit Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in the morning and meet with faith leaders, including the Rev. Jamal Bryant at the new Freddie Gray Empowerment Center."
From The Baltimore Sun: Prior Back Injury Alleged as Officer’s Trial in Freddie Gray Case Moves Forward
"Prosecutors failed to disclose information that Freddie Gray told a police officer about a prior back injury the month before he was arrested in the incident that led to his death.
"Judge Barry Williams declined Monday to declare a mistrial, as the defense requested, but ruled that the prosecution had committed a discovery violation and that the information could be introduced by Officer William G. Porter's defense, as the trial entered its second week.
"Prosecutors say Gray died because Porter and five other officers failed to seat-belt Gray in the back of the police transport van where he was injured in April, and failed to call for a medic when he asked for one.
"The state medical examiner who performed Gray's autopsy took the stand and stood by her finding that Gray's death was the result of a homicide, even as Porter's attorney suggested it was simply a "theory" that is unsupported by evidence."
From The Baltimore Sun: Rawlings-Blake Seeks $2 Million For Lawyers to Respond to U.S. Probe of Police
"Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake wants to spend $2 million for a Washington law firm to represent the city as it responds to the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights investigation of the Baltimore police force.
"Howard Libit, the mayor's spokesman, said municipal lawyers have retained Wilmer Hale to assist the city through the end of the fiscal year in June.
"'They have an expertise in dealing with the Justice Department,' Libit said. 'They are assisting with the city's response to the investigation.'
"The mayor's request for spending on the law firm — which will require City Council approval — comes as the administration also hopes to spend $533,000 to hire additional crime scene analysts to bolster the police department's overburdened forensics lab and to give the city's civilian review board more staffing to investigate police misconduct complaints."