The judge was unequivocal as he explained why he found Officer Caesar Goodson not guilty of all charges in the death of Freddie Gray, whose neck was broken inside his transport wagon: prosecutors showed no evidence of a crime.The acquittal of the police driver in the death of the 25-year-old arrestee is the most significant blow yet to their efforts to hold police accountable after protests and rioting in the troubled city.
The failure raises the prospect of whether any convictions can be obtained, and if State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby should simply give up trying the case in criminal court.
Throughout the legal proceedings, prosecutors' tactics have been maligned, CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues reports.
In December, Officer William Porter walked free after a hung jury. Last month in another bench trial, Baltimore Judge Barry Williams found Officer Edward Nero not guilty. Both officers faced lesser charges than Goodson.
At the start of Goodson's trial earlier this month, Williams scolded prosecutors for failing to turn evidence over to the defense about another prisoner in the transport van with Gray.
Mosby was in court to hear the verdict, and appeared crestfallen as she hurried out of the courthouse, climbing into a black SUV that sped down the street, away from the crowd.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement posted to Twitter that Goodson still faces a police administrative review.
"We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion," she said.