Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore State's Attorney, has been hit with a defamation lawsuit and invasion of privacy accusations by two of the police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
According to court records made public Wednesday, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter filed suit against Mosby, Baltimore sheriff's officer Maj. Sam Cogen, and the state of
Maryland on May 2, The Baltimore Sun reported.
White and Porter, who are facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection to the death of 25-year-old Gray last April, claim Mosby and Cogen knew statements made at a press conference announcing the charges were false, and only made the announcement in an attempt to avoid riots, according to the newspaper.
"They exposed plaintiffs to public scorn, hatred, and contempt, thereby discouraging others in the community from having a favorable opinion or associating with plaintiffs," the suit reads, alleging
damage of reputation, according to WBAL-TV.
"As a result and proximate result of the false and defamatory statement, plaintiffs were placed on administrative leave with no pay and have suffered and continue to suffer monetary damages in the form of lost income, lost raises in salary, and lost promotions," the lawsuit continues.
The 26-page lawsuit seeks $75,000 in damages for each of four counts — two of defamation and two of invasion of privacy and casting them in a false light.
A spokeswoman in Mosby's office declined to comment, citing a gag order, The Sun reported.
Gray died in April 2015 from spinal injuries officials claim he suffered in the back of a police transport van, where he was shackled but unrestrained by a seat belt, according to The Sun. Prosecutors say White, Porter, and other officers "ignored Gray's injuries and failed to secure him in a seat belt," The Sun wrote.
White and Porter are two among six officers charged; Porter's December trial resulted in a hung jury.
On Monday, another officer charged in the Gray incident, Edward Nero, was found not guilty of second-degree intentional assault and two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment by Judge Barry Williams in a
bench trial, according to CNN.