Donta Allen: Second man in police van denies telling officers Freddie Gray was 'intentionally trying to harm himself'

Witness could hold crucial role in determining what happened to young man who died after being detained

Donta Allen

A man who was inside the Baltimore police vehicle with Freddie Gray after he was arrested has denied reports that he told police that the young man had “intentionally tried to harm himself”.

Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that a preliminary police report provided to Maryland state prosecutor Marilyn Mosby included a statement from the second prisoner, saying that it appeared Mr Gray was banging his head against the side of the van.

But now the person claiming to have been in the van when Mr Gray was arrested last month has come forward to deny telling such a thing to a police investigator.

Donta Allen told WJZ that he had indeed heard Mr Gray’s head banging against the vehicle but had not suggested that it was self-harm..

“All I did was go straight to the station, but I heard a little banging like he was banging his head,” he said.

“And they trying to make it seem like I told them that, I made it like Freddie Gray did that to himself. Why...would he do that to himself.”

Mr Allen said that he had told detectives the same thing.

“I had two options today right, either come and talk to you all and get my credibility straight with you and not get killed or not tell a true story,” Mr Allen added.

“The only reason I’m doing this is because they put my name in a bad state.”

The death of Mr Gray last month resulted in days of peaceful but angry protests in Baltimore. On Monday, the day Mr Gray's funeral was held, riots erupted in parts of the city.

Mr Allen made similar comments in an interview with WBAL. He told that network that the journey to the police station had been a small ride.

“All I heard was a little banging for about four seconds,” Mr Allen said.