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IN PHOTO: A man with his shoe wrapped in a U.S. flag marches with protesters against police violence as they move towards the White House in Washington, April 29, 2015. The marchers joined the cause of those in Baltimore who said they seek answers about the fate of Freddie Gray, who died after suffering spinal injuries while in police custody. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Reports suggest that Freddie Gray might have tried injuring himself when he was inside a police van. The death of Gray, after he had suffered critical spinal injury in police custody, caused riots all over in the U.S. city of Baltimore.

A prisoner who had shared the same van with Gray said that he was able to hear Gray “banging against the walls” of the vehicle. He believed that the man “was intentionally trying to injure himself.”

The prisoner was not able to see Gray as he was separated by a metal partition from the 25-year-old. His statement is going to be produced in court under the condition that he would be kept anonymous during the entire process to ensure his safety.

One of the lawyers defending the Gray family, Jason Downs, said that the family was not aware of the prisoner’s statement. “We disagree with any implication that Freddie Gray severed his own spinal cord,” he said, “We question the accuracy of the police reports we’ve seen thus far, including the police report that says Mr Gray was arrested without force or incident.”

A Baltimore police investigator has written the document which is supposed to give an idea of what might have happened inside the police van. Gray was found to be unconscious in the police van when it reached a police station. Gray suffered critical injury in his spine and died one week later.

The death caused wide protests around the city. Eventually, there were several angry demonstrations which ended up being violent. Enraged local residents set buildings in fire, injured police officers with rocks and looted stores.

Police officers have maintained their stance saying that they are not aware what exactly left Gray injured during the arrest. He was inside the van for 30 minutes while he was moved to a police station. Six police officers, including a sergeant and a lieutenant, were suspended.

According to Baltimore Police, the investigation will be wrapped up by Friday. The results of the investigation will be handed over to the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office which is going to decide if there will be an indictment.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au