CBS Baltimore
Earlier this week, The Washington Post released details from a police report from Freddie Gray’s April 12 arrest. As you may recall, the report seemed to imply that another man, who was picked up by police after Gray, told investigators that he believed the 25-year-old “was intentionally trying to injure himself” during the ride to the police station.
The man has been identified as Donta Allen, 38, and he decided to come forward to refute the claims made in the police report. According to Allen, his words were twisted in the report.
“I am Donta Allen. I am the one who was in the van with Freddie Gray,” he told CBS Baltimore. “All I did was go straight to the station, but I heard a little banging like he was banging his head.”
He adds that the investigator who wrote up the internal police report tried to make it seem as if he told them that Gray was trying to hurt himself, but he denies ever saying anything like that.
“And they trying to make it seem like I told them that, I made it like Freddie Gray did that to hisself (sic),” he said. “Why the [expletive] would he do that to hisself (sic)?”
“I talked to homicide. I told homicide the same story.”
Due to the internal police report being released to the public, Allen said that he fears for his life.
“I had two options today right, either come and talk to y’ all and get my credibility straight with ya’ll and not get killed by these [expletive] or not tell a true story,” Allen added. “The only reason I’m doing this is because they put my name in a bad state.”
Oh yeah, and if you’re wondering why cops picked Allen up in the first place, it’s because he allegedly stole a cigarette from a store on North Avenue. He was never charged for the alleged crime. It’s relieving that Allen has decided to speak out.
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