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U.S. Warship Heading to Yemen; Boston Marathon; Baltimore Death. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired April 20, 2015 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:12]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And we roll on, hour two. Thank you so much for watching CNN here on this Monday. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Minutes from now, we could be getting answers that relatives and protesters, even the mayor of Baltimore demanding in the death of Freddie Gray. Police there minutes from now due to hold this news conference one day after the 25-year-old died. According to law enforcement, Gray was arrested. This is back on April -- quote, unquote -- "without force or incident."

But you see this photo from his family. Somehow in police custody, Gray's spinal cord was severed, and he lapsed into a coma. This is according to his family's attorney. Now, there is no video of Baltimore police officers actually approaching Gray.

By the time the cell phones started recording, he apparently couldn't walk. But he could talk. And in the footage we're about to show you, you can hear his wails. Just a warning, though, this video is tough to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His leg look broke. Look at his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) leg. look at his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) leg. That boy leg look broke. His leg broken. You all dragging it him like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to Baltimore and my colleague Suzanne Malveaux.

And, Suzanne, we know police will be talking in about a half-an-hour from now.

Several major questions here in this case.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. They have got a lot to answer to. There's protesters. There are reporters from around the country who are going to be addressing them.

I just had a chance, Brooke, to talk to the deputy press secretary of the mayor's office, and he gave us a few new details. He said that it's going to start with the mayor, who will make an opening statement, five to 10 minutes. And then it will be followed by the police commissioner, Anthony Batts. And he said not only are they going to be giving an update from what they have learned and what they have been able to glean from some of the interviews, at least interviewing 10 of the police officers, he said that the police commissioner himself is going to talk about already potentially lessons learned and possible policy changes, immediate policy changes that they could potentially make because of what has happened here.

So we're very curious as to what he's actually going to reveal. But there are major questions and there are major holes. We really want to know about that 14-minute period between what we see and what we know is the first cell phone video of Freddie Gray, when he has his hands behind his back and he is basically being dragged, his legs very limp, to the police van.

And then 30-minute period between the time that he was in that van and they called an ambulance that came to get him and tried to resuscitate and get him going again in the hospital when it found that he had his neck broken. Those are the two time periods. Perhaps he will be able to give us details about that.

But I suspect, Brooke, what's going to happen is that we're going to hear the mayor, like she said earlier, that her hands are somewhat tied by the law enforcement rules that are on the book on a statewide level that protects some of the officers and really gives them a chance to have an independent investigation that's going to take some more time.

BALDWIN: To your points earlier, why did they pursue him, what happened in police custody, we will be waiting for those answers in mere minutes. Suzanne Malveaux, thank you so much, in Baltimore.

Meantime, this rookie Ohio police officer is being praised by some for holding his fire. That's right. In this case, he did not discharge his weapon as a double murder suspect charged forward at him. There are others who are questioning whether Officer Jesse Kidder showed too much restraint. Kidder's own body actually camera captured this whole confrontation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get your hands up. Get your hands up. Get your hands up right now. Stop. Stop right there. I don't want to shoot you, man. I don't want to shoot you. (INAUDIBLE) Don't do it, man. (INAUDIBLE)

(SHOUTING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get your hands out of your pocket now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shoot me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, man. I'm not going to do it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shoot me! Shoot me! Shoot me! (END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Jean Casarez is with me. And you can hear that suspect. Shoot me, shoot me. And he doesn't.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And he finally says shoot me, or I will shoot you. First of all, the body cam he was wearing, his family had purchased for him. It wasn't department-issued.

BALDWIN: His own family got it for him after -- was it because of Ferguson?

(CROSSTALK)

[15:05:03]

CASAREZ: We don't know the exact date. But we know that he had it because of his family.

BALDWIN: Interesting.

CASAREZ: And let me give you a little timeline.

First of all, the officer had also received word that he may want suicide by cop. So that may have formed part of his state of mind. But here's the timeline as we know. And you said it, double murder suspect. It was on that day. That was about 8:30 at night right there.

Previous to that, in the state of Ohio, he had allegedly murdered his fiance/girlfriend about 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Then he crossed over into Ohio, allegedly shot his best friend, a 27-year-old male. That was about 7:00 p.m. and then crossed back into Ohio. There's an all- points bulletin. OK? Everybody is on the manhunt. They have been looking for this guy.

(CROSSTALK)

CASAREZ: This officer, this rookie cop follows him for about nine miles all by himself. And then the suspect gets out of the vehicle. And it's different from every video we have seen, right. The suspect is coming at him. And he even falls down, the officer does, with his gun.

(CROSSTALK)

CASAREZ: How vulnerable is that? But he chose not to shoot. And all are alive because of it.

BALDWIN: There are some, as we mentioned, praising him for not shooting, others saying it was too risky. And just quickly, the race of the suspect, Caucasian.

CASAREZ: Caucasian. That's going to come into question with a lot of people, that he didn't shoot because he was a white man and he wasn't a minority. I guess that will have to come out in the investigation. But, meanwhile, this man is charged with two counts of murder.

Kentucky has not filed suit yet, but Ohio is holding him on $2 million bail.

BALDWIN: Jean Casarez, thank you very much.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BALDWIN: All right. Breaking news here on CNN. We're getting word that a U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, is right now steaming straight ahead toward the waters off of Yemen in the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Navy has been beefing up its presence off the coast of Yemen as this country really has been spiraling into chaos. The Yemeni capital of Sanaa was just rocked again by violence as these sectarian battles have continued, these power struggles continue to threaten the stability of the U.S.-allied nation. Much more on what's happening in Yemen here in just a moment.

But, first, six Americans have just been arrested for trying to join ISIS. Two were arrested in San Diego, four arrested in Minneapolis, allegedly lured in through a network of friends and accused of plotting to join the terror group ISIS by any means possible. Authorities saying the suspects kept trying to get into Syria, even after their plans were disrupted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW LUGER, U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA: But what is remarkable about this case is that nothing stopped these defendants from pursuing their goal. They never stopped plotting another way to get to Syria to join ISIL. They were not confused young men. They were not easily influenced. These are focused men who are intent on joining a terrorist organization by any means possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to Minneapolis to my colleague there Ryan Young.

Ryan, apparently these young men were getting help from, what, one of their friends who actually made it to Syria?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of their friends who has actually made it to Syria now is considered sort of the ringleader, someone they're looking up to since he has actually joined the recruiting efforts of ISIS in Syria.

But these young men wanted to join very badly. In fact, they all talked amongst themselves. And it was one of the members in the group who decided to turn evidence for the FBI and started recording some of this information and the meetings. They also believe the men went to a Greyhound bus station and tried to get a bus to JFK.

They were met by FBI agents there, and guess what? They said they didn't know each other, but they were able to look at the video and clearly see they have all been together. This was a plan that went on for months. And talking to the agents and the people who have been investigating in this area, they say there's a problem in Minnesota.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUGER: To be clear, we have terror recruiting problem in Minnesota. And this case demonstrates how difficult it is to put an end to recruiting here. Parents and loved ones should know that there is not one master recruiter organizing in the Somali community locally.

What this case shows is that the person radicalizing your son, your brother, your friend may not be a stranger. It may be their best friend right here in town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Brooke, six people arrested so far. But they say they will continue the efforts in this community to make sure no one else tries to make it over to Syria -- Brooke.

[15:10:01]

BALDWIN: Ryan Young, thank you.

We are standing by live. We were just talking about Baltimore here. We're waiting for this news conference. We will be hearing from the mayor, presumably the police commissioner there, in the death of a suspect who was in police custody. Will officials have the answers these protesters and relatives are demanding? We will take that live.

We will also take to you live to the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where runners are still crossing two years after the bombings right there on Boylston Street, why this year's winner reminded many of the year of the attack.

And more on our breaking news, the United States right now sending that warship closer to Yemen as the chaos there continues to spiral out of control. Stick with me. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:03]

BALDWIN: Talk about the ultimate example of resilience and defiance. The city of Boston all about running today, united and strong two years after the deadly bomb blast there at the marathon finish line.

Marathon runners there still crossing that finish line this hour. Keep running to you, not letting the cool, rainy day dampen any of their spirits in Boston.

CNN's Alexandra Field is live amidst all -- it's a little bit of rain, but I'm sure just incredible energy there. Tell me what people are telling you.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, I know that you have seen the strength of people here in Boston firsthand. And no doubt it's fully on display today. Despite the rain, despite the weather, so many thousands of people were just committed to coming out here, to being at the finish line, standing in the very place where those attacks happened just two years ago.

They wanted to cheer on the elite runners. They wanted to cheer on the athletes who train for a year over the course of their lifetime to accomplish the goal of crossing that finish line. They also wanted to cheer for more than two dozen survivors of the attacks who participated in today's race, incredibly emotional moment for anyone who crossed that finish line, particularly the people who spent the last two years recovering from those horrible attacks.

Brooke, there were also huge crowds here when the winner of this race crossed the finish line, Lelisa Desisa, the same Ethiopian man who won the title back in 2013.

BALDWIN: Is that a medal around your neck there, Alex Field?

FIELD: Yes, I got the medal for standing here in the rain, Brooke.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I was going to say, did you run that marathon and then pop on TV with me?

(CROSSTALK)

FIELD: Did a quick run and came right back here.

(CROSSTALK)

FIELD: I have seen a lot of these runners walking by behind me.

BALDWIN: Yes.

FIELD: Yes. Exactly.

A lot of the runners though who are walking by behind me, honestly, they look better after running 26 miles than I would after, say, a 5K. All credit, all due respect to these people who are out here in the elements, not complaining. So committed to being here. They're incredible. Such an inspiration to all of us who are simply standing here with ribbons around our neck.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Yes, I ask only because I was in your situation last year and totally stole a medal from someone just to see what it felt like. I have never run a marathon, but kudos to everyone there in Boston.

(CROSSTALK)

FIELD: Think about it.

BALDWIN: Yes. Yes. Maybe you and I both, maybe, maybe, maybe. Alex Field, thank you so much in Boston. Fantastic town.

Just ahead, Baltimore police expected to speak here in just a matter of minutes as they should be revealing more details about what happened to 25-year-old Freddie Gray. Why did police pursue him? What happened while he was in police custody? Severed spinal cord and in a coma, he died. We will take that as soon as we can.

Plus, two of my CNN favorites. Oh, goodness. Love the graphic, guys. Good job, graphics. Two Eagles fans joining me to -- for a little bit of a smackdown, the signing of one Tim Tebow. Good move, horrible move? Smerconish v. Tapper. Don't miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:22:00]

BALDWIN: Tim Tebow is coming back to the NFL. He is expected to sign today with the Philadelphia Eagles. It could be his last chance to make it as a pro. He's been out of the game for two years. So here's a quick refresher for all of you. He's a devout Christian.

He's known for his on-the-field Tebowing after touchdowns. He also appeared in a Super Bowl ad with his mom, speaking out against abortion. He brings with him close to three million Twitter followers. He also does TV, even co-hosting the Christmas Day Parade from Disney World.

Let's get reaction from two of my favorite guys here at CNN. I have huge Eagle fans on my right and my left. I have Jake Tapper, raised in Philly, hosts "THE LEAD." I have got Michael Smerconish, born and raised in Philly, hosts CNN's "SMERCONISH," "Michael Smerconish Program" on SiriusXM.

Gentlemen, I would like to say from the start, I tried to hard to get a referee shirt today, because I have a feeling I might need it. I wanted the stripes and a whistle. But needless to say, I can whistle if need be.

Smerconish, to you first.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I will be shocked if Jake weighs in against this, because this is a no-brainer.

BALDWIN: I think he is.

You love this idea. Why?

SMERCONISH: I love this idea. I have always thought that this guy knows how to do just one thing, win. And he has such a winner's persona. I haven't bought into the idea for the last two years that there's no place in the NFL for Tebow because the mechanics are different. The mechanics are football.

They're the same mechanics that enabled him to win a Heisman Trophy. I'm elated he's coming back to the NFL and even more so it's in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a city of second chances. He needs one, and I think he will be in the starting rotation mix.

BALDWIN: I mean, I don't even have a dog in this fight, Tapper, but I'm listening to this. And you're sort of winning me over, Michael Smerconish.

Tell him why he's wrong.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Was he just describing Tim Tebow? Was that about Tim Tebow?

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Let's go, Tapper. How do you feel?

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: He knows how to win?

All right.

SMERCONISH: Yes.

TAPPER: We don't have to get into the statistics of Tim Tebow's career. I think it's fair to say that the numbers bear out that he -- first of all, he hasn't played if two years. But beyond that, he's not a winning quarterback. The Patriots cut him. He went nowhere on the Jets.

But, beyond that, look, this is about whether or not Tim Tebow is going to be the Eagles' third-string quarterback. This is not about whether or not he's going to be the starting quarterback. The thing about Tim Tebow is, he's a symbol. He's a symbol for evangelicals who support -- or Christians who support that kind of display of faith on the field. And that's wonderful. I have no issue with that.

But to me he's a symbol of the confusion that I and many Philadelphia Eagles fans feel, which is what the hell is Chip Kelly doing? There are a bunch of us who want to be rooting for the Eagles and want to understand what Mr. Moneyball out there with his brilliant big brain is doing with all these coaching moves.

But I have to tell you, first he trades away shady McCoy, arguably our best player. Then he brings in a player who's been injured, Bradford, as a quarterback, trading our quarterback, Foles, for him. Now he brings in Tim Tebow. It's like a goof. I don't even know what's going on. I'm not rooting against the Eagles. I want to root for them. I'm going to back this team.

[15:25:06]

If Tim Tebow is the starting quarterback, I'm going to root for him 100 percent, but I have no idea what's going on. And, Michael, you cannot tell me you do. You can't.

SMERCONISH: No, I don't.

TAPPER: OK.

SMERCONISH: I'm just thrilled with this particular move, because those others puzzle me.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I see you. Let the man respond to you.

(CROSSTALK)

SMERCONISH: Those other moves puzzle me the way that they puzzle Jake.

But, Jake, the last time he was really given a shot was with the Broncos. I think he was 9-7 when he truly had the opportunity. The Jets ruined him in the NFL. Rex Ryan brought him here with Woody Johnson only to put fannies in seats. They had no intention of allowing him to play. I think that put him on this disastrous course. But he's now been rescued, brought out of the booth. It's going to be so exciting to watch.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Hold on. So, the Broncos, Jets, Pats. He hasn't been playing in two years. He's a winner, according to "some" -- air quotes. Why do you want him in that locker room in Philadelphia?

SMERCONISH: I think he's such a positive influence.

Interestingly, I am not making the evangelical pitch. Jake, you might be interested to know I'm of the opinion that if he's going to point to the sky when he throws a completion, he needs to point to the ground when he throws an interception. That's not my motivation at all.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: My problem is that God doesn't listen to his prayers. He doesn't complete passes. That's the problem.

And we need a quarterback who can complete passes. If God listened to him and put the ball from his hand into the receiver's hand, then great. God bless. And I mean that literally and figuratively. But that's not what happens with Tim Tebow. Look, I want to root for him. But this is just -- first of all, why -- he's probably going to be cut after August anyway. I don't even understand.

This is all about like -- in what other world do we discuss who the Eagles picked to be their third-string quarterback?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Do we even know if he's third-string? Do we even know what string, like second, third, fourth?

(CROSSTALK) SMERCONISH: The presumed first-string guy has a serious injury problem. We don't know if Sam Bradford can play.

TAPPER: Yes.

SMERCONISH: And that's why he's -- look, five quarterbacks in camp. Three of them have been NFL starters.

TAPPER: Sanchez is the second-string quarterback, not Tebow.

SMERCONISH: As of now.

BALDWIN: What about Michael's whole point, Jake, about...

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: Are you looking into the future?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: We love a good redemption story. Second chances. Can you give us something?

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: First of all, this is fourth chances. But that's fine. I'm happy to give it. If he's good, I'm going to root for him, and so will every Eagles fan.

The point is, nobody has any idea what Chip Kelly is doing. He doesn't like to explain himself. He's obviously far more intelligent than I am when it comes to football. But Michael has already agreed with this. We're all very, very confused with these machinations and these maneuvers in the off-season. Nobody has any idea what's going on. There are all these conspiratorial theories about why Tebow was brought in. And none of them have to do with winning football games.

BALDWIN: Fellow, they're not going to win the Super Bowl anyway. Sorry to break it to both of you.

SMERCONISH: What?

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: Now, that's crazy talk. They're obviously going to win the Super Bowl.

BALDWIN: Thank you both very, very much, Eagles fans.

Jake is going to have much more, probably not on the Eagles, but everything else, with "THE LEAD" coming up at the top of the hour. And you can watch "SMERCONISH" Saturdays 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN.

Fellows, that was fun. Let's do it again sometime. Not go Eagles, though. Sorry. (CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Moving on, next, we're expecting Baltimore police here any moment, live pictures from Baltimore. Watching for the mayor, watching for the police commissioner here to answer some of these questions. What happened to this 25-year-old a week ago, Freddie Gray, who mysteriously died in police custody, spine was severed, coma, died?

Public anger from families and really just people in the area, protesters wanting answers. We will bring you that news conference live.

Also, we're watching very closely as well this breaking news overseas. This aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, we're learning, is en route to the waters there, the Arabian Sea just off the waters of Yemen. We have more on that. Stay with me on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)