The continued unrest surrounding the death of Freddie Gray – a black man who was arrested during a police confrontation in Baltimore and later died in custody– has been focused on the actions of the arresting officers.
Gray's encounter with Baltimore police on April 12 ended with his spine almost severed. He fell into a coma and died a week later.
A report published in the Washington Post on Wednesday night suggests Gray may have tried to hurt himself after he was arrested and placed inside a police transport vehicle.
The report cites a prisoner who was allegedly riding in the same police vehicle with Gray the day he was arrested. The prisoner claims he heard Gray "banging against the walls” of the vehicle and believed that Gray “was intentionally trying to injure himself."
The Post says that unidentified prisoner's statement was included in an application for a search warrant related to the case.
Attorneys for the family of Freddie Gray have denounced suggestions Gray tried to hurt himself, and the prisoner cited in the search warrant application was apparently separated from Gray inside the vehicle and could not see him.
Despite claims Gray may have tried to exacerbate his own injuries, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts has admitted that mistakes were made after Gray's arrest.
Batts said during a press conference last week that Gray "was not buckled in the transportation wagon as he should have been ... we know our police employees failed to get him medical attention in a timely manner, muliple times."
Baltimore police officials are expected to report the findings of their investigation to prosecutors this week.
SEE ALSO: Maryland state senator calls for Baltimore police commissioner to step down
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