Legal settlements totaling $645,000 push Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force payments to $16 million with five claims remaining

Baltimore’s spending board approved $645,000 on Wednesday to settle two more legal disputes related to the city police department’s disgraced Gun Trace Task Force, bringing the total amount paid out related to the rogue unit to more than $16 million. The two settlements, one for $330,000 with Jamar Bowles and another for $315,000 with Alex Holden, close out two lawsuits filed in August alleging task force officers planted drugs.