Baltimore: Freddie Gray died 'from bolt to head' in police van, says report

Gray’s death has sparked sometimes-violent protests in Baltimore

Freddie Gray’s fatal injury was sustained inside the police van when his head hit a bolt in the back of the paddy wagon, according to a Baltimore local news station claiming to have been briefed on the police report and the medical examiner’s findings.

According to those documents – via ABC local news – a wound on Mr Gray’s head matches a bolt in the back of the police vehicle. The 25-year-old man died in police custody and had a partially severed spine sustained at some point after he was accosted by police.

Mr Gray’s death set off protests in Baltimore that earlier this week devolved into riots, prompting leaders to institute a nightly 10 pm curfew and call in thousands of National Guard troops. Protests have since spread to other US cities, including New York and Philadelphia.

A spokesman from the Maryland medical examiner’s office would not comment on the report, as the investigation is on-going.

The Washington Post has reported that another person who was in custody in the back of the police vehicle claimed that Mr Gray was throwing himself around the back of the paddy wagon, trying to hurt himself. These claims have not been confirmed by officials.