Baltimore has been filled with both violent and peaceful protests over the past days as a response to the controversial details surrounding the death of Freddie Gray and years of tension.
In order to curb the violence and keep residents and police of the city safe, some who are in police custody still have not been charged or given a bail hearing, according to Mashable. Others have been given bail set at $750,000, Mirriam Seddiq, who works for Seddiq Law in Greenbelt, Md. told the site. Not everyone in custody was even participating in protests, Seddiq added.
"Some arrested during the looting that took place in Baltimore on Monday say they were simply watching what was happening in their neighborhoods when they were swept up by police in mass arrests," Mashable reported.
Following Monday's citywide protests, 235 people have been arrested, city officials said.
Despite the state's law that requires someone arrested to have a hearing within 24 hours of being in custody, a "majority" of those arrested are still waiting to get one. However, prominent police and political figures in Baltimore have some explanations.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts acknowledged the issue and said Wednesday that those in custody might be prosecuted later. On Monday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan temporarily got rid of the 24 hour charge and hearing rule in a letter sent to Baltimore's district court administrative judge, Mashable reported. That decision has not sat well with some people though, like one pubic defender who took matter into their own hands.
The defender, who Mashable did not name, was able to get 84 people released from police custody on grounds that their rights were being violated.
