She gave a troubled city what many of its citizens wanted to hear: a list of tough charges against six police officers involved the arrest of Freddie Gray.
Tensions subsided immediately. A festival atmosphere replaced unrest which seemed likely to sustain more rioting, that, of course, was just the beginning. What the crowd applauded was only step one. How will participants if the accused are exonerated?
Rightly or wrongly, other state and local officials can be forgiven if they were breathing easier after her action.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake took flak for moving more deliberately – too slowly her critics insist. Of course, she did not wish to say her city was headed toward chaos – to say, that is, -- that she couldn’t keep the lid on.
But there is something to be said for deliberate. Having the guard in the street too early might have provoked more looting and burning and general unrest.
Governor Hogan, too, may recall the Mosby moment with some envy. The troops he called in did their jobs well. There was little more in the way of criminal activity. He will be under some pressure to help Fredie Gray’s neighborhood, Sandtown-Winchester.
Ms. Mosby, on the other hand, must hope that her investigators gave her a lot of ammunition. Her success on the street, may be hard to duplicate in court.