May 8th, 2015 by WCBC Radio
The Justice Department has announced a civil rights investigation into the practices of the Baltimore City police department following a request from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Attorney General Loretta Lynch formally announced the practice investigation into the Baltimore Police Department Friday morning. The investigation will look for unconstitutional policing practices within the city, such as patterns of excessive force or improper stops and searches. Federal authorities are conducting a separate investigation into the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died last month after suffering grave injuries. The death set off riots in the city, and Baltimore's top prosecutor has brought charges against six police officers.
Baltimore city officials last fall requested a voluntary Justice Department review of the police force. The mayor this week requested a full-fledged civil rights investigation. If anything unlawful is found, the Justice Department will seek a court order to "force changes."
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