[Scan-DC] Police audio offers look behind the scenes

[Alan Henney]

The Baltimore Sun

July 26, 2015 Sunday  
FINAL EDITION

Police audio offers look behind the scenes

BYLINE: By: Christina Jedra, THE BALTIMORE SUN

SECTION: LOCAL; Sun Investiages; Pg. 4A

LENGTH: 385 words

On April 27 -- the day Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died from injuries suffered in police custody, was laid to rest -- rumblings of anger grew quickly into violent clashes between youth and police, spiraling into full-scale chaos with riots, arson and looting across the city. 

Recently released police radio transmissions reveal the challenges law enforcement officers faced on that day.

"Let's start corralling these kids, and let's start making arrests," one officer said just before 3 p.m., according to transmission recordings obtained by The Baltimore Sun in a Public Information Act request.

But officers were soon overwhelmed -- even with reinforcements from surrounding counties and the Maryland State Police. The scanner was periodically punctuated by the beeping of a Signal 13, an alert indicating that an officer needs assistance.

"They just outnumbered us and outflanked us," then-police Commissioner Anthony Batts would later say.

Officers repeatedly asked for Mace, pepper ball guns, tear gas, shields and additional manpower to defend themselves from "aggressors," -- in addition to medical assistance for the injured.

"We're getting creamed! We need help down here at Gwynns Falls!" an officer yelled at 3:41 p.m.

Officers said they were under "heavy attack," getting pelted by rocks and bricks while on foot and in their vehicles.

A common refrain from officers in charge was to "hold the line, a direction to keep police skirmish lines intact. A commanding officer yelled to those at Liberty Heights around 4 p.m., "Do not go forward and do not chase them!" Officers using tear gas were reminded to "aim at the feet."

The police union has criticized that strategy, saying it emboldened people to riot and allowed the unrest to spread across the city. Police officials say the nonengagement approach was needed to protect officers and citizens, prioritizing life over property.

Throughout the day, commanding officers triaged calls for help and tried to stretch resources to the most in-demand zones. Ultimately, more than 200 people were arrested and more than 130 officers were injured.

The Sun listened to about 10 hours of police scanner audio from two tactical channels officers used to communicate with one another and their superiors from 2:30 p.m. until midnight on April 27.

-- Christina Jedra