Suspect cleared on gun counts

A man charged with killing an off-duty Baltimore police officer was found not guilty yesterday of unrelated handgun counts.

Brandon Grimes, 23, was accused of running from two police officers who had pulled him over on suspicion of speeding near his home in the 800 block of Caton Ave. Police said that as they chased him into his backyard, Grimes threw a .22-calber handgun over a fence.

The jury found Grimes not guilty of all charges stemming from the April 13, 2006, incident, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Grimes is being held on first-degree murder charges in the killing of Detective Troy Lamont Chesley in what police believe was a robbery attempt Jan. 9 last year. Police say Grimes approached the officer on the front porch of a house on Fairfax Road in West Baltimore.

Grimes also faces charges in three unrelated cases involving a shooting, a carjacking and a handgun violation.