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New Day Saturday
Baltimore Police Arrest Dozens After Curfew; Police Unions Says Mosby Has Conflict of Interest; Donte Allen Says Gray Injuries Not Self-Inflicted; Kate Gives Birth to Baby Princess; Arrests During Baltimore Curfew; Unique View Inside Prisoner Transport Van, How Gray Tragedy Could Happen; Obama: Vital Truth Emerges in Freddie Gray Death; Meet Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Aired 7-8a ET
Aired May 02, 2015 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your name?
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CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight arrests, Baltimore police send dozens to jail after curfew. And now police are gearing up for another week of rallies.
Plus, it's the center of the investigation. What happened to Freddie Gray inside the police van? We're getting a unique view inside a prisoner transport van and how this tragedy could have happened.
Plus, breaking news this morning. The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a second child. Now, the question is, what will they name her. Yes, it's a girl.
7:00 straight up on this Saturday morning. We're so grateful for your company as always.
I'm Christi Paul. Of course, Victor Blackwell is live for us in his hometown of Baltimore. He can give us a unique perspective of what's going on there.
Victor, good morning.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Christi.
I'm going to continue to show people who have never been to Baltimore, haven't seen the Baltimore where I grew up in, more of the city. But let's talk more about the relief and celebration and really some anger in Baltimore. Overnight, protesters face off with police after that huge decision to charge six officers involved in the arrest of Freddie Gray.
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BLACKWELL: Now, at least 50 people were detained overall, 15, specifically, because they violated the curfew. But this was after the calm following the state's attorney decision to file criminal charges against those officers. A lot of celebration in the afternoon.
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MARILYN MOSBY, BALTIMORE STATE'S ATTORNEY: Lieutenant Rice, Officer Miller, and Officer Nero failed to establish probable cause for Mr. Gray's arrest as no crime had been committed by Mr. Gray. Accordingly, Lieutenant Rice, Officer Miller and Officer Nero illegally arrested Mr. Gray.
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BLACKWELL: Now, the officers who typically took suspects to central booking were there themselves yesterday. Here are the mug shots, all six officers who are now facing charges. Some of the charges against them include second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, assault as well. This morning, the group is out of jail after posting bond.
And today, more protests and rallies planed in Baltimore and in big cities across the country. We've got a map for you. Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chapel Hill, Richmond. On the west coasts, protests in Beverly Hills, L.A., Houston.
We've got with us defense attorney, Scott Bolden.
I want to start where we ended the last conversation. Can these officers get a fair trial in Baltimore?
A. SCOTT BOLDEN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I certainly hope so. The criminal justice system in Baltimore depends on it. There will be a judge. There will be a lot of checks and balances. The protesters under arrest, where they're protesting for or against the community, represent a microcosm there. There will be a lot of lawyers there. The judge will give preemptory challenges. So it sees they get a fair and impartial jury. Until the judge decides in his or her discretion they can't, this trial will go forward as any other trial would.
BLACKWELL: I wonder if there are additional concerns or additional charges that could be coming, based upon the statement from these police officers. Because the narrative built by the police officers is contrasted by the narrative built by the state's attorney, which one would expect. But there are things that can be refuted directly, like the knife. Initially, you were told it was a switch blade. The state's attorney said that it was a folding knife. If you have the knife, that can be determined, right? BOLDEN: Absolutely. It's determined. They have it in evidence.
It's in an evidence bag. Usually, that would be a factual dispute.
But again, remember, there's a loss of life here. Even if it's a switch blade and even if it was, they have probable cause to arrest, which by the way, they didn't, because running in a high-crime area doesn't give you probable cause to chase and then recovering the knife. It's a bit of a red herring, if you will. The bottom line is, were these officers criminally responsible for the death of Freddie Gray? If they were, they'll be convicted presumably. And if they weren't, they'll be absolved. So there's nothing too quick about these charges. This is the beginning, not the end of the process.
[07:05:00] BLACKWELL: Let's talk about the bail, for some $350,000, for others $250,000. The NBC affiliate here in Baltimore has spoken with the family of one of the protesters who smashed the window of a police car. He's charged in relation to that. Other crimes, I think, eight charges overall, his bail, $500,000, more than the officers involved in the crime, or in the death of Freddie Gray.
BOLDEN: Well, a lot of factors go into how you set bail. That individual would have a criminal record. Busting a police officer's or police cruiser's window shield, that's pretty serious damage to property. Disrespect to police. And to the judge, too, the judge may have a bail process that he or she goes through. Is that individual a flight risk? The amount of the bail tells you how serious the office is and whether they're a flight risk and how strong the case is against the individual. All of that goes into play.
BLACKWELL: This is an announcement of charges. It still has to go before a grand jury?
BOLDEN: Yes. Yes.
BLACKWELL: Could this be derailed? Is there a chance where the grand jury says we don't see it and charges are dropped?
BOLDEN: Possibly. 95 percent of cases that the prosecutors put to the grand jury, they hand down the process. Why? Because if your viewers know what a grand jury is, they determine whether there's enough elements to support the elements of these crime. The prosecution puts the evidence, the witnesses, in the grand jury, and then they make that determination. The defendant isn't there. If the defendant is there, he's not there with his lawyer. So the prosecution controls a lot of what indictments are handed down with these 16 to 23 people.
BLACKWELL: Attorney Scott Bolden, thank you so much.
BOLDEN: Thank you.
BLACKWELL: We'll continue this conversation throughout the morning.
Now, the police union, as you'd imagine, is angry, upset also with the state attorney's decision, saying Marilyn Mosby has conflict of interest and should have waited until the police inquiry was complete before bringing charges.
We've got CNN correspondent, Rene Marsh, with us. We're going to get her on camera with us in just a moment. But here, first, is Rene's report.
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MOSBY: We have probable cause for file criminal charges.
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RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION & GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Baltimore state's attorney, Marilyn Mosby, made a bombshell announcement to the cheers of protesters, saying even before police officers placed Freddie Gray inside the police van --
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MARSH: -- he never should have been arrested.
MOSBY: No crime had been committed by Mr. Gray.
MARSH: Gray was found carrying a knife but the prosecutors said it was legal.
MOSBY: Mr. Gray was then placed in a problem position with his arms handcuffed behind his back. It was at that time that Mr. Gray indicated that he could not breathe and requested an inhaler, to no avail.
MARSH: Mosby says not only did the officers fail to get Gray medical help, they made another grave mistake when they put him into this police van.
MOSBY: At no point was he secured by a seat belt while in the wagon, contrary to a BPD general order.
MARSH: The van drove away from the scene, and while the exact route is unknown, made its first stop here, where officers took Gray out of the van to put shackles on his legs and flex cuffs on his wrists.
MOSBY: Officer Miller and Lieutenant Rice put Mr. Gray back in the wagon, placing him on his stomach, head first, onto the floor of the wagon. Once again, Mr. Gray was not secured by a seat belt in the wagon.
MARSH: The officer driving the van made another stop here.
MOSBY: Despite stopping for the purpose of checking on Mr. Gray's condition, at no point did he seek, nor did he render any medical assistance for Mr. Gray.
MARSH: Several blocks later, the drive stopped once again, and three other officers arrived to check on Gray.
MOSBY: Mr. Gray at that time requested help and indicated that he could not breathe. Officer Porter asked Mr. Gray if he needed a medic, at which time, Mr. Gray indicated at least twice that he was in need of a medic.
MARSH: Mosby says the officers did not call a medic and once again failed to seat-belt Gray. The van's driver decided to move on.
It was at the fourth stop here, the man picked up this man, Donte Allen, who was put on the other side of a metal partition. Mosby said Gray was once again neglected.
But it wasn't until 25 minutes later when the van reached the police station that a medic was called. At that point, she said, Gray was in cardiac arrest and not breathing. The medical examiner and prosecutor concluded Gray's death was a homicide.
No comment from any of the six officers, but a Fraternity Order of Police lawyer is calling for an independent prosecutor, citing conflict of interest in saying there was a rush to judgment.
MICHAEL DAVEY, BALTIMORE POLICE UNION ATTORNEY: We believe that the actions taken by the state's attorney are an egregious rush to judgment. And we have grave concerns about the fairness and integrity of the prosecution of our officers.
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[07:10:07] BLACKWELL: Rene Marsh with us now live.
Rene, the family of Freddie Gray, they have now said that they're satisfied with these charges.
MARSH: Yeah, you know, we haven't seen a lot from them. But at the press conference yesterday, following the state attorney's announcement, we did hear from his stepfather. Not only do they say they fear a sense of hope because of what the state's attorney did and announced. But they're also wanting people to know that as these rallies happen today, they want them to continue to happen peacefully. We know that Trayvon Martin's mom was here yesterday. She had a private meeting with his family. A person present at that meeting said that the family just felt a feeling of comfort to know they were in the presence of someone who knows the feeling of a loss. Although the circumstance is different, the untimely loss of a loved one.
BLACKWELL: Yes, that sound bite that we heard was a statement from a relative of Freddie Gray saying we're looking for justice. Wondering if it's just the family that sees there's potentially something wrong here.
Rene Marsh, thank you so much.
Let's go back to Atlanta.
Christi, there are protests scheduled for today. At this hour, it's pretty calm. Just media here. I know you see the National Guard and state police behind me, but they're milling around. No much going on yet. But, again, big protests planned here in Baltimore and around the country.
Back to you.
PAUL: Victor, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
A big question a lot of people have is, how can Baltimore begin moving forward now since there have been charges that have been filed against the six officers of Freddie Gray. We're talking to Keith Haynes, the Maryland House of Delegates whip next.
Plus, it's a royal delivery for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The fourth in line to the British throne is a baby girl. And we're going to take you live to the hospital in London next.
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[07:15:42] PAUL: 15 minutes past the hour right now. Six Baltimore police officers are charged in the death of Freddie Gray, but a lot of questions are still out there about how exactly the 25-year-old suffered that fatal spinal injury while being transported in a police van last month.
CNN's Don Lemon spoke with Donte Allen, the man in that van the day Gray was arrested. Allen says Gray was hurt before he got in the vehicle and insists Gray did not inflict those fatal injuries on himself.
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DONTE ALLEN, I know for a fact that he did not hurt his self. I know he didn't. A spinal cord messed up and a broken leg. You cannot do that in a paddy wagon. You can hit your hit and have a little headache. But you ain't going to hurt yourself to the point where you're going to be dead and brutalized like that.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And officers can't get in there to hurt you like that?
ALLEN: Officers -- they can stand in the back where the entrance is and punch him in the face like that. But what's that going to do?
LEMON: So you think he was injured before he got in the van?
ALLEN: He was definitely injured before he got in the van.
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PAUL: Victor Blackwell is live in Baltimore with so much more on this.
Good morning, Victor.
BLACKWELL: Christi, I have Keith Haynes, the deputy minority whip of the Maryland House of Delegates.
I want to talk about this case specifically and larger issues with you. I will start specifically with the charges. I had some people come to me yesterday on more than one occasion, as we saw most people celebrate these charges, a few have said this is a bone being thrown to the community that they want to keep quiet. You say to that is what?
KEITH HAYNES, (D), DEPUTY MINORITY WHIP, MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES: I say that's probably incorrect. As we know, the reports, the police reports and investigation has concluded. And also the medical examiner's report, autopsy report was concluded. And I think that's really key. Because the independent medical examiner's report states this is a death of homicide. So the state attorney's evidence that she has -- has all the evidence that she needs to make a decision to bring the charges forth as she did. She can have prosecutorial discretion, of course. But it's hard not to bring charges when you have an independent medical examiner saying that this is a death by homicide.
BLACKWELL: Let's talk about the economy here because I grew up here. The vacants on North Avenue have been there for decades. It's not just west Baltimore. You go over to east Baltimore and it's just as bad and maybe worse on some blocks. When is that going to change? Is there a plan for that to change? People can't wait forever with politicians telling them help is on the way?
HAYNES: You're absolutely right. It's not in one part of the city. It's more prominent in other areas but out there the city. It's the result of jobs being lost, the results of jobs going overseas. Baltimore was once a major manufacturing hub and those jobs are gone. And they haven't been replaced. With those jobs being gone, people left and moved to the suburbs, and we haven't been able to attract individuals back.
But you're absolutely right. That's one of the reasons, why the frustration that we saw on Saturday evening, and particularly on Monday, was more -- had grown more than just the Freddie Gray situation. It's about the frustration about no investment or lack of investment into our community when it comes to vacant housing. So people have got to get it right.
BLACKWELL: We've seen -- we've identified the problem.
HAYNES: Got to get it right.
BLACKWELL: We've identified the problem so what's the solution? Or is there conversation being had about the solution?
HAYNES: There are conversations. I mean, there's legislation that I put in, other legislators have put in to try to bring -- to attract businesses back into the neighborhood. One of the things that's used for development across the city are various tax breaks for the areas. We want to see the same types of tools, that were used in other areas, use them in our communities to attract business and investment back into those areas so we have a thriving myriad of communities across the city. We've got to get it right, get it turned around.
[07:20:12] BLACKWELL: I'll tell you, I had a conversation with those three young men who say they all want to leave west Baltimore because they don't see opportunity. They're not optimistic. I'm hoping that politicians can get it right. They've been like that since I was a little boy, I've come back with CNN, and it's even worse. Hopefully, things change.
HAYNES; Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Thank you so much.
Christi, I'm going to send it back to you.
We'll continue to follow the developments here and as the day gets started and people statistic to wake up on the west coast. Those protests planned out there the country. We'll have the latest on everything as it relates to these charges now announced connected to Freddie Gray's death -- Christi.
PAUL: Right. And some of those protests and rallies certainly going on on the west coast as well.
Thank you, Victor.
Grossly negligent, that is how the Baltimore state's attorney describes the six officers described in the arrest of Freddie Gray.
Up next, we're taking you inside a police transport van. It's very similar to the one that was carrying Gray. You're going to see where he spent some of his final moments before he slipped into that coma.
Plus, Prince George is a big brother today. The royal family, and all of us, welcoming a baby girl. We'll go live to London for you.
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PAUL: There is a new princess in the house. The royal family welcomed a baby girl this morning. Everybody is excited about this. The crew aboard a royal navy ship -- look at this -- spelling out "sister" in celebration of today's announcement.
CNN's Max Foster is live outside St. Mary's Hospital where Catherine has just given birth.
Max, I know there's a formal announcement, the formal one where they bring out the easel. That has not yet been displayed outside. Will they put the name on the easel as well or how will we learn the name?
[07:25:30] MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: No -- so, we'll learn the name when we get an e-mail, once the duke and duchess have decided to announce it. Maybe they're still deciding. We don't know. We'll get a notice shortly outside of Buckingham Palace. The information that we know, time and weight and birth whether it's a boy or girl. It's where the public can go and sort of be part of this. If you turn
the camera around quickly, we've got a situation where this is a very confined area. You've literally got hundreds of photographers and crews and photographers in this case. There's not much room for the public as well.
There are a few members of the public as in super fans who have been allowed to stay here. But apart from that, the public is really being pushed back.
We had a moment where a town crier came along and announced the birth. And the public surged forward and the police pushed them back.
In terms of what happens after the notice goes out, hoping to hear about a name. Then, of course, Christi, hoping to see the family on the steps behind me, these famous steps where is Prince George was presented to the world and where Prince William was presented to the world.
So a little moment in British history coming up, possibly tomorrow, hopefully, today.
PAUL: We would hope so.
Max Foster, thank you so much. We appreciate the update there.
Despite the charges against the six Baltimore police officers, there are so many questions that need answers. What happened to Freddie Gray inside that prisoner transport van. Up next, we're taking you inside a similar van for a unique look at what happened during that arrest.
Should have all the outrage in Baltimore have been expected? CNN commentator, L.Z. Granderson, is explaining what he says this was a long time coming.
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[07:30:53] BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We had a real melee over here. We're being moved away from the satellite truck where there's a real melee here with protesters. One protester on the ground being arrested. We're here with him. The police are trying to move us out of the plaza.
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BLACKWELL: That was our Brian Todd. He was here last night, as police officers tried to enforce that citywide curfew that begins at 10:00 each night. Overall, there were more arrests. To the most part, there was a visible sense of relief. Audible, too. We heard from a lot of people, people driving through intersections, honking their horns on their cars, now that the six officers involved in Freddie Gray's death have been charged. You'll get a look at them right now. Mug shots of the six officers. And protesters are vowing to keep the pressure on police. Demonstrations are planned at all of these cities you see on the map, Boston, Harrisburg, Richmond, Chapel Hill, all the way out west to Beverly Hills and L.A. as well. The driver faces the most serious charges including second-degree depraved-heart murder and assault. And officers say Gray was placed inside the van in handcuffs but was never strapped into seat belts, violating protocol.
CNN national correspondent, Gary Tuchman, takes us inside a police transport van similar to the one Gray was transported in to show us how an individual could be injured inside. Watch.
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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Here's what we know for sure, if you are handcuffed, if your legs are shackled and you're not seat-belted, you're very vulnerable.
This is a police van similar to the one used in Baltimore. This is a DeKalb County, Georgia, police van.
The lieutenant is with us.
We'll open it up.
The normal protocol, when you put someone in the van, you handcuff them, right?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT, DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Yes, we do.
TUCHMAN: Behind their back.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes, we do.
TUCHMAN: You go in here, you sit here and you but on the belt.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes.
TUCHMAN: And that's the protocol. You always put on the seat belt.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Always.
TUCHMAN: In this case, we know the seat belt wasn't put on, what we know from the state's attorney's statement, after the first stop, they brought Gray outside the police van again. They handcuffed him. Re- handcuffed him. That's where they do it. Not in front, behind this back. Not in front. They shackled his legs and threw him face first inside the van.
If you're face first like this, lying on your stomach with your hands behind your back and your legs shackled, there's no way for you to get up.
Lieutenant, is there any way to get up?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: It's incredibly hard. TUCHMAN: You have ever seen anyone do that before?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: It's almost impossible.
TUCHMAN: So if there's a rough ride in the van this is theoretically what could have happened. If this is bounced up and down, your head hits the metal. Your head hits the metal. That doesn't hurt. I'm just trying to give you an indication of hard he could have hit it. Supposedly, he hit his head on a bolt. And then there's a bolt down here. I'm not sure, but that's where the bolt is.
Regarding communication or prisoner on the other side, this is to separate the genders, to put dangerous criminals on one side, dangerous criminals on the other side.
He was communicating, right?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes, it is.
TUCHMAN: If he's yelling and screaming, someone should have heard him. Even if you're shackled, you can do that, you can yell. If you come inside for a second.
Lieutenant, you can hear me?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes, I can.
TUCHMAN: Even if the engine is running you can still hear me?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes, sir.
TUCHMAN: What if you're up front?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: I can still hear you.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Are you always listening for people back here?
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE LIEUTENANT: Yes, we are.
TUCHMAN: OK.
We don't know exactly what happened. What we do know is that the state's attorney says Gray was lying on his stomach. It's very narrow here. There would have been no way to get up. If it was a rough ride, he would have been bouncing back and forth.
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BLACKWELL: We've got CNN analyst and former FBI assistant director, Tom Fuentes, with us.
Tom, we'll talk about different vehicles. But first, joyrides, nickel rides, these rough rides, all the same thing, essentially. Do you expect that there will be written protocol, maybe retraining, now that this high-profile case of a rough ride has happened. Not the first rough ride, but this sits now on the world stage?
[07:35:09] TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think so, Victor. Keep in mind, these rides are dangerous without a rough ride. When I was a sophomore in the FBI, riding in a vehicle similar to that, when you have your own person driving and you're trying to stay from bouncing up and down off the streets just with normal streets, hitting potholes. Even without a deliberate rough ride it's a rough ride.
BLACKWELL: Some talk about transitioning to other styles of vehicles?
FUENTES: Yeah, more like the airport mini buses. Or the other buses where you have people seated forward and more padded seats to be strapped in. We're trying to go north of that. But departments barely have enough resources to keep their manpower up, you know, really difficult to switch out every week they have. Even if the vehicles are dangerous. They run into problems how to put a witness in that's not cooperative. Maybe needs to be handcuffed. And they're not strapped in, there's no way to break a fall if you're coming off a seat and bouncing around.
BLACKWELL: Let's talk about the law enforcement presence here. In the back of my shot, people can see we've got Maryland State Police, National Guard, law enforcement from municipalities from around. You've been speaking to them here.
FUENTES: Most of them I talked to are the Maryland state troopers. Specifically those in the civic center and National Guardsmen and other neighborhoods involved in the last couple days, and almost everybody I talked to is from Baltimore. Obviously, the police departments from surrounding parts of Maryland are not Baltimore. But the ones that I talked to here are really Baltimore residents and really want things to return back to normal so that everybody can go back to their regular lives.
BLACKWELL: For the most part, these protests, these demonstrations after the announcement of the charges have been peaceful, celebratory in many respects. How long do you expect that the National Guard and state police will be here?
FUENTES: I think the minimum, after the curfew ends up being lifted which probably I would expect maybe by Monday, they may be kept around for a few more days. If relative peace returns, I think that they'll be sent back home and their deployment will end. A lot depends on that. I think in terms of the protest, we're at a point now where these officers have been charged and whether or not the grand jury process coming up. Essentially they're charged either way. There will be a trial. And so that's a question will they protest the next time these officers face prosecution which is near 18 months, which is possible to put that kind of a case together.
BLACKWELL: We'll see how the protests go today. Huge demonstrations planned for the weekend. We'll continue to watch them.
Tom Fuentes, thank you so much.
FUENTES: You're welcome. Thank you, Victor.
BLACKWELL: All right, Christi, back to you.
PAUL: Thanks so much, Victor.
I want to show you video that we're just getting in from moments ago of the official announcement of the new princess. Here is the announcement at Buckingham Palace. This is a tradition. You see the framed easel there or the easel that's out, the golden easel, and then the information as they let us know Catherine gave birth at 8:34 to an eight pound, three-ounce baby girl at St. Mary's Hospital. We're still waiting to see her. We're still waiting to get her name. The crowd there that just wants to be a part of it all.
We'll be right back. Stay close.
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[07:42:34] 42 minutes past the hour right now. And new this morning, the president says it's absolutely vital that the truth emerges concerning the death of Freddie Gray. President Obama addressing the situation in Baltimore, after six officers were charged in the arrest and death of Gray.
With more on the president's statements, we want to go to CNN national correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty.
Sunlen, good morning to you.
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi. The White House officials say the president is focused on this and concerned about the unrest in Baltimore. Receiving briefings at least one day. Speaking out from the Roosevelt Room on Friday, the president said he thinks the people of Baltimore more than anything else just want the truth.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All the evidence needs to be presented. Those individuals who are charged, obviously, are also entitled to due process and rule of law. And, so, you know, I want to make sure that that legal system runs the way it should. And the Justice Department and our new attorney general is in communications with Baltimore officials to make sure that any assistance we can provide on the investigation is provided.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SERFATY: And the president also went out of his way to emphasize that the protests in the last few days were in this words constructive and thoughtful. And now a number of sports figures like Carmelo Anthony and Ray Lewis, encouraging them to get on the streets of Baltimore, with the thought of keeping things peaceful and calm that people can demonstrate peacefully.
PAUL: Is there any indication that the president will go out to the streets of Baltimore? I know there were calls for that?
SERFATY: There were calls for that. But the White House says they don't want to divert any resources that could be necessary to protect the president in a situation if he were to visit Baltimore. The White House says no plans at this time for the president to visit Baltimore. But, of course, they would not rule out a visit by the president at some point in the future.
[07:44:58] PAUL: Sunlen Serfaty, good to see you.
Up next, a guess says we shouldn't be shocked at all over the outrage in Baltimore because what happened didn't come over night. It was a long time coming, he says. He'll explain more of that after the break.
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BLACKWELL: Welcome back to "New Day," live in Baltimore.
We're talking about the charges against those officers and the death of Freddie Gray. Gray's life was marked early with financial hardship, followed by run-ins with the law. Drugs as well. Freddie's own brother was a victim of street violence and died because of it. Like Freddie Gray, young people growing up in west Baltimore, they feel the hardship.
I spoke with a group of teenagers who are living there now. I think you'll learn something from what they have to say, listen.
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BLACKWELL: Do you want to leave west Baltimore?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
BLACKWELL: What about you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I dream about leaving. I'm not going to say it's a reality for me right now.
BLACKWELL: Why do you want to leave west Baltimore?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want to get away from all the mess. I mean, not a mess -- it's a mess everywhere. But this is where it's really at, all the mess. I just want out.
BLACKWELL: What kind of mess.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shootings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shootings.
BLACKWELL: Why do you want to leave west Baltimore?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like -- the world revolves around money. There's no way staying in this city. Not talking about drugs or anything. I'm talking about like having a future.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to do something in my life. Like, why they call it, Murder Land?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murder Land. Murder Land.
BLACKWELL: Say that again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bodymore Murder Land.
BLACKWELL: When you hear that where you're from, where I'm from, what is that feel like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's like saying you've lived with rats and roaches for 17 years and you got a problem with it. If you had a problem with it, you would have been gone. We live here. It's what you've got to go through.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[07:50:25] BLACKWELL: Bodymore Murder Land is what this city is called. The first time I've heard that.
And those boys also told me -- and I thank them for being so candid. They told me that they believe that people see them as criminals first and they have to prove that that's not who they are.
Speaking of who people are, I think a lot of people for the first time heard the name Maryland Mosby and got to see her, at least the country, the world, as she announced those charges against the six officers involved with the death of Freddie Gray.
CNN's Nick Valencia introduces us to this young state's attorney who is now on the world stage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Shortly after being elected the chief prosecutor, Baltimore's city state's attorney, Marilyn Mosby, says "prosecutors have the toughest job in America." And with the world's attention on her on Friday she made an unexpected announcement.
(voice-over): Dressed in pearls and a black jacket, Baltimore state's attorney stands tall. She chooses her next words carefully.
MARILYN MOSBY, BALTIMORE STATE'S ATTORNEY: The findings of our comprehensive, thorough, and independent investigation coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide which we received today has led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges.
(SHOUTING)
MOSBY: I learned very early that life isn't always fair, that tomorrow is uncertain, and the environment you grow up in will either build you or break you.
VALENCIA: A self-described product of adversity and triumph, Marilyn Mosby is the youngest chief prosecutor of any major city. Elected in January, the 35-year-old campaigned with passion, personality, and made her case for the people's trust.
MOSBY: What's happening in the city right now with the rash of violence has everything to do with the -- the state's attorney was completely out of touch various communities throughout Baltimore city.
VALENCIA: Mosby's views on crime and punishment were shaped while she was young. Her mother, father, grandfather, and four uncles all wore a badge. Born in Boston's inner city Mosby would choose to go her own way, beaming with optimism her life was ripped apart after her cousin's death, mistaken by another teen for a drug dealer. He was killed on her front doorsteps.
MOSBY: Having to go to court and see my neighbor who had the courage and audacity to cooperate with the police to testify in court and the way in which the district attorney's office dealt with my family is something that inspired me. I knew that I wanted to be an attorney. It was a matter of what type of attorney I wanted to be.
VALENCIA: At Tuskegee University, she was the first in her family to go to college. It's where she met her husband, current Baltimore city councilman, Nick Mosby.
NICK MOSBY, HUSBAND OF MARILYN MOSBY & BALTIMORE CITY COUNCILMAN: She's a strong woman. She was built for this.
VALENCIA: With her words on Friday morning, it is Mosby now who may have singlehandedly restored the faith among the people of Baltimore at time when they needed it the most.
MOSBY: Accountability.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How are we going to get there?
MOSBY: You're getting it today.
(on camera): All six officers involved in Freddie Gray's death have been charged. What's still yet to be determined, if they will be found guilty.
Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: On the job for just a couple of months, and I'm sure we will see more of Marilyn Mosby over the next several months. Let's go back to Christi in Atlanta -- Christi?
PAUL: All right, Victor, thank you so much.
We have so much more coverage from Baltimore at the top of the hour including a live interview with the attorney for Freddie Gray's family. We're going to find out what's next for them.
Also, a historic homerun for Alex Rodriguez, tying him for fourth all- time with Willie Mays. But it's a big hit and there's a big controversy attached to it. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:57:48] PAUL: A glimpse of other stories developing this morning.
The death toll has risen to more than 6600 this morning. Now one week after the 7.8 earthquake rocked Nepal. Another 14,000 people are injured and search-and-rescue teams are still scouring the rubble hoping to find some survivors.
The Pentagon says there's been a dramatic decrease in the number of sexual assaults reported in the military. A new study found that over the past two years, a number of reported assaults have plunged by 27 percent. The Pentagon-sponsored study done by the Rand Corporation attributed the drop to new initiatives taken by the military.
Blues legend, B.B. King, is battling health problems. The king of the blues was admitted to a Las Vegas hospital earlier this week. King's daughter says he wasn't eating and he's dehydrated. Tests showed that he may have reportedly had a minor heart attack. He was later released from the hospital and is now, we understand, in hospice care.
A milestone moment for controversial baseball player, Alex Rodriguez. He hit his 660th homerun and that ties him with fourth all-time Willie Mays. The question is, though, will the Yankees pay Rodriguez a $6 million bonus? If they do so that would allow the team to use his name and likeness to market his achievements. But do they want to do that? That is what remains unclear right now.
And stay right here with us. We've got a busy morning of news. We want to make sure you are out the door in the know.
Our next hour of "New Day" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They told me to go home.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your name?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP) PAUL: Overnight arrests. Baltimore police send dozens to jail after curfew. And now police gear up for another weekend of rallies.
Plus, rubble and destruction. You will not believe this. A CNN crew makes it to the epicenter of the Nepal earthquake. It took days for them to get there. How bad is the destruction? We've got a live picture for you and live report coming up.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[08:00:09] Oh, yes, it is a girl. The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to baby number two.
