Jury selected in police corruption trial in Baltimore

Twelve jurors and four alternates have been selected in the trial of two officers charged in one of the largest scandals in the Baltimore police department’s history.

The jury was picked from a statewide pool of 75 people on Monday, the trial’s opening day. Opening statements are expected Tuesday.

Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor are two of eight indicted members of a disbanded police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force. They have pleaded not guilty to racketeering and robbery charges.

12 jurors and four alternates were selected in the trial of two officers charged in one of the largest scandals in the Baltimore police department’s history. The jury was picked from a statewide pool of 75 people on Monday, the trial’s opening day

Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor are two of eight indicted members of a disbanded police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force. They pleaded not guilty

Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor are two of eight indicted members of a disbanded police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force. They pleaded not guilty

Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor are two of eight indicted members of a disbanded police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force. They pleaded not guilty

Six other indicted Baltimore officers have pleaded guilty. Four of them may testify as witnesses for the government.

The first witness prosecutors hope to call to the stands is Detective Maurice Ward. Ward worked with Taylor under Sgt Wayne Jenkins before they were tapped to join the Gun Trace Task Force in June 2016.

All eight officers were accused of executing searches without warrants, invading private homes, robbing suspects and innocent citizens of cash, reselling seized drugs on the street, and making fraudulent overtime claim.

The first witness prosecutors hope to call to the stands is Detective Maurice Ward (left). Ward worked with Taylor under Sgt Wayne Jenkins (right) before they were tapped to join the Gun Trace Task Force in June 2016

Thomas Allers, who also oversaw the unit has pleaded guilty along with Momodu Gondo, Jemell Rayam, Evodio Hendrix and Ward.

Allers, Rayam, Hendrix and Ward could serve up to 20 years in prison while Jenkins faces up to 30 and Gondo has a maximum sentence of 40 years. 

Prosecutors have either dropped or plan to drop more than 100 criminal cases that rely on the testimony of the corrupt officers. 

Thomas Allers (left), who also oversaw the unit has pleaded guilty along with Momodu Gondo, Jemell Rayam (right), Evodio Hendrix and Ward

Allers, Rayam, Hendrix (left) and Ward could serve up to 20 years in prison while Jenkins (right) faces up to 30 and Gondo has a maximum sentence of 40 years.

50 adjudicated cases were successfully reopened only to then drop as advised from the defense counsel.

A Philadelphia officer who attended the Baltimore Police training academy also has charges brought against them. 

The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.



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