Washington, May 8 (EFE).- The U.S. government will investigate the Baltimore police for a pattern or practice of excessive force in its operations, reported The Washington Post on Thursday.
Official confirmation that Attorney General Loretta Lynch is considering opening a federal investigation into the police after the death in custody of a young black man triggered violent protests last week followed on Friday.
Baltimore has been calm this week, after the violent protests which followed the funeral of young black man Freddy Gray on April 19.
Gray died after lying comatose for a week with a serious spinal injury sustained while in police custody.
"We're currently in the process of considering the request from city officials and community and police leaders for an investigation into whether the Baltimore City Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of civil rights violations," Lynch said.
"And I intend to have a decision in the coming days," she added.
Her predecessor, Eric Holder, ordered an investigation into the actions of Ferguson police after a white officer killed young black Michael Brown last August despite the latter being unarmed.
Brown's death also led to widespread and violent protests.
In Brown's case the report concluded that Ferguson police routinely violated the U.S. Constitution by arresting people without apparent reason, using excessive force and practicing racial prejudice.
