A Baltimore Police officer facing decades in prison if convicted for his role in the death of Freddie Gray has ties to South Jersey.
Officer Edward Nero served as a member of the Washington Township Fire Department in Gloucester County for a decade, said township Fire Chief John Hoffman.
Nero, a former resident of Sewell, New Jersey, had a clean record during his time with the department from 2002-2012.
"He was an outstanding and dedicated firefighter," said Hoffman.
Nero, 29, and five other suspended officers face charges in Maryland after arresting Gray died on April 19. Nero, a bicycle officer, can be seen taking Gray into the transport van.
Gray's death was ruled a homicide. He died of a severe and critical neck injury he suffered from being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unsecured inside a police van during his arrest a week earlier, Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby said Friday, after getting his autopsy report from the coroner.
One officer faces a murder charge and three other officers face manslaughter charges. Nero and another officer, Garrett Miller, face second-degree assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office charges in Baltimore. If found guilty, Nero could get up to 20 years behind bars.
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All six officers posted bond after being booked Friday.
Residents who lived near Nero's former South Jersey home said they were shocked by the allegations against someone who seemed like a good guy.
