Schools reopened and streets were calm in Baltimore on Wednesday after an encouraging night that saw little of the angry chaos that has devastated Charm City in recent days.
A prayer vigil was planned for noon to honor Freddie Gray, the young black man whose death while in police custody set off more than a week of protests that had grown increasing confrontational.
One night after violent protests that saw buildings burned, stores looted and more than 20 police officers injured, Baltimore enjoyed a night of relative calm Tuesday as police and National Guard troops dispersed protesters and a curfew took effect without major disturbances.
Ten people were arrested Tuesday night, seven of them for violating the curfew, two for looting and one for disorderly conduct, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said in a news conference. The numbers are a big improvement over the 200-plus arrests made Monday night.
Schools CEO Gregory Thornton welcomed students back to school with an open letter thanking "the thousands and thousands of students who made good decisions (Monday) and avoided the violence and law-breaking."
The letter also warned that students who did participate in Monday's violence will be held accountable.
"Principals and teachers are planning activities that will help students learn from the past days' events," Thornton said. "Counselors, social workers, and psychologists will be on hand to support students' emotional needs."
Meanwhile, investigations into the Gray case are going forward. Baltimore's police commissioner plans to present a report on the case to prosecutors by Friday, but it was unclear if or when the police will release any of the information.
The Justice Department has also opened a civil rights investigation into Gray's death, but has not indicated when any report would be issued. Department officials have met with Gray's family. The department issued a statement saying officials also had "participated in several meetings (Tuesday) with city leadership, law enforcement, faith leaders, young people and members of the community."
An autopsy is being conducted by the state medical examiner. Governor Larry Hogan told The Baltimore Sun that a preliminary report would be released "as soon as possible," but that a complete report would take several weeks.
In another probe, Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby is looking into whether criminal charges are warranted against the officers involved in the Gray case. Six officers have been suspended with pay.
Gray died April 19, one week after being arrested and suffering a severe spinal injury. After Gray's funeral Monday, protests ostensibly against police violence quickly deteriorated into devastating riots. Bands of looters, some armed with crowbars, roamed the city, hurling rocks at police, destroying patrol cars, smashing store windows and torching buildings.
On Tuesday night, it looked as though more violent clashes between police and protesters were in store when members of the crowd hurled objects at police and officers responded by firing pepper pellets and smoke canisters into the crowd.
Read more: Schools reopen, Baltimore calm ahead of noon vigil
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