First Freddie Gray Hearing Since Six Officers Charged in Death; At Least One Arrested in Protest Outside Courthouse

BALTIMORE (TheBlaze/AP) -- Protesters demonstrated outside Baltimore Circuit Court on Wednesday morning as the first court hearing was set to begin in the case of six police officers criminally charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died a week after suffering a critical spinal injury in custody.

Freddie Gray

As dozens of sheriff's deputies patrolled the streets around the courthouse and journalists and observers lined up waiting for the courthouse to open, protesters carrying yellow signs with slogans including "Stop racism now" gathered outside. They chanted: "Indict, convict, send those killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell" and "Tell the truth and stop the lies, Freddie Gray didn't have to die."

WBAL-TV posted video online that showed an "arrest in progress" of a demonstrator who was blocking traffic:

.@BarrySimmsWBAL shows an arrest in progress of a man who was blocking traffic pic.twitter.com/Cy6L9l3hKH

— wbaltv.com (@wbaltv11)

September 2, 2015

CNN also captured video of one arrest:

One arrest has been made outside courthouse where protesters gathering for #FreddieGray trial https://t.co/fyZ8qCKL4N https://t.co/LcnDVK1Bvf

— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) September 2, 2015

Prosecutors and defense attorneys will present arguments at Wednesday's hearing on three key issues: whether State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby should recuse herself, whether the officers should be tried separately, and whether charges should be dismissed.

The officers face charges that range from second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, to second-degree "depraved-heart" murder. Gray's death led to protests in Baltimore, and a riot that prompted National Guard intervention and a city-wide curfew.

Police line advancing on protestors #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/DHDL6PEDjn

— Rob Carlson (@vees) September 2, 2015

Follow @MeganReports @jlepolastewart & @JeffAbellFOX45 for updates from the courthouse on the #FreddieGray hearing pic.twitter.com/FdpjzMMKy9

— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) September 2, 2015

Demonstrations today as court hearings begin for #Baltimore police officers re death of #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/93r9V6gxfo

— ACLU of Maryland (@ACLU_MD) September 2, 2015

Protester Lee Paterson said he's concerned charges could be dropped.

"You know, this whole thing is bigger than Freddie Gray," Paterson said. "It's about poverty."

---