Thomson Reuters
Officer Caesar Goodson leaves the courthouse at the end of day four of the murder trial of black detainee Freddie Gray in Baltimore
Caesar Goodson, one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the in-custody death of Freddie Gray, was found not guilty of second-degree depraved heart murder, the Baltimore Sun reported.
Goodson, 46, had been driving the police van transporting Gray in April 2015 when Gray suffered a broken neck and later died.
Judge Barry Williams cleared Goodson of all the charges laid against him, which included three counts of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
Prosecutors had alleged that Goodson gave Gray a "rough ride" intending to injure him, and failed to ensure he was given medical care for those injuries.
But in closing arguments, Goodson's attorney Matthew Fraling said Gray "created the high degree of risk" by changing his position in the back of the van, the Baltimore Sun reported.
The eight-day bench trial, which Goodson opted for rather than a jury trial, concluded Monday.
Goodson is the third officer to face trial in Gray's death - William Porter's ended in a mistrial and Edward Nero'sresulted in an acquittal. Goodson faced the most serious charge of all six officers.