Freddie Gray death: Police van driver charged with murder was only on duty because he had agreed to work overtime, says report

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The Baltimore police van driver facing murder charges over lethal injury that resulted in the death of suspect Freddie Gray was on duty because he had volunteered for overtime, it has been reported.

Officer Caesar Goodson, 45, was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” according to his police colleagues who spoke to the Daily Mail Online.

The twice-married officer who lives in Baltimore with his wife Paula, a nurse, and who has two daughters, was among six officers arrested last week after state prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced she had found probable cause to bring charges.

Mr Goodson faces up to 63 years in jail over the April 19 death of Mr Gray who allegedly suffered a 'catastrophic' spinal injury while in police custody.

Fellow officers said that Mr Goodson was one of the hardest working men on the force. They also he was not an officer who was likely to cut corners when it came to regulations such as making sure a suspect was strapped in.

Mr Goodson had volunteered to do overtime to cover a shortfall in manpower. “That was typical of him. Caesar was always the first to put his hand in the air when they needed someone to get back out there,” one of his colleagues told the newspaper.