BALTIMORE — Proceedings are scheduled to begin for the fourth Baltimore police officer slated to stand trial on charges stemming from the death of a 25-year-old prisoner whose neck was broken in the back of a police transport wagon.

Lieutenant Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, will go on trial this week on manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office charges. A hearing on pretrial motions opens Tuesday.

The trial follows two recent acquittals in the cases against Officer Caesar Goodson, who faced a second-degree murder charge, and Officer Edward Nero, who faced misdemeanor charges stemming from Gray’s arrest. Both chose judge trials.

The trial for a third officer, William Porter, ended in a mistrial in December. His case is scheduled for retrial in September. The other two officers charged, Sergeant Alicia White and Officer Garrett Miller, filed motions to dismiss their cases last month.

The acquittals dealt a significant blow to the prosecution and to Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who has staked much of her reputation on these cases. Since charging the officers last May, Mosby has come under intense scrutiny for her decisions.

Five of the six officers, including Rice, have filed defamation suits against her, and a law professor filed a formal complaint with Maryland’s Attorney Grievance Commission. In the complaint, George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf alleges that Mosby pursued charges against the officers without probable cause, which is a violation of her professional oath.

Gray died April 19, a week after he suffered a critical spinal injury in Goodson’s wagon while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained by a seat belt. His death prompted days of peaceful protests followed by rioting across swaths of the city.

Associated Press