Tag: Derek Chauvin

Minnesota charges three more former officers in George Floyd case

Axios logoMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday elevated charges against the former officer seen kneeling on George Floyd’s neck to second-degree murder, and also charged the three other former officers who were present with aiding and abetting murder, according to court documents.

Why it matters: Members of Floyd’s family and protesters across the country have demanded charges against all four officers on scene during his death.

  • Derek Chauvin, the former officer seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, was originally charged last week with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
  • The three other former officers charged on Wednesday are Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. Continue reading.

Derek Chauvin in custody; other officers lay low

As the Twin Cities enter an anxious and uncertain weekend, fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is in custody and accused of murder, while the three other ex-officers present at George Floyd’s fatal arrest are keeping an extremely low profile.

Tou Thao, videotaped watching as Chauvin continued to press on Floyd’s neck with his knee, has left Minnesota, his lawyer confirmed Friday. Criminal defense attorney Robert Paule said Thao is “safely elsewhere” and that he couldn’t comment further.

J Alexander Kueng, one of the two first officers at the scene who helped pin Floyd down, is believed to be staying with family in Minneapolis. Thomas K. Lane has left and didn’t tell anyone where he was going, a relative said Friday. Continue reading.

George Floyd, fired officer overlapped security shifts at south Minneapolis club

A former club owner in south Minneapolis says the now-fired police officer and the black man who died in his custody this week both worked security for her club up to the end of last year.

George Floyd and now-former Officer Derek Chauvin both worked security at the El Nuevo Rodeo club on Lake Street, according to Maya Santamaria. Santamaria owned the building for nearly two decades, but sold the venue within the last few months.

“Chauvin was our off-duty police for almost the entirety of the 17 years that we were open,” Santamaria said. “They were working together at the same time, it’s just that Chauvin worked outside and the security guards were inside.”  Continue reading.

Derek Chauvin’s wife’s ‘utmost sympathy’ lies with George Floyd — and she wants a divorce

AlterNet logoThe wife of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin released a statement on Friday announcing she was seeking a divorce.

Kellie Chauvin released the statement through her lawyer, who spoke with her Friday evening.

“She is devastated by Mr. [George] Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving tragedy.” Continue reading.

Minneapolis officer charged with murder

The Hill logoA former Minneapolis police officer involved in the death of George Floyd has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, the Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday afternoon.

“[Derek] Chauvin has been charged by the Hennepin County attorney office with murder and with manslaughter,” Freeman said during a press conference. “He has been charged with third-degree murder.”

Minnesota is one of only three states in the country to have a third-degree murder charge, the others being Florida and Pennsylvania. Also known as depraved-heart murder, a third-degree murder charge is used when someone causes the death of someone without the intent to kill, but with an action that is dangerous and disregards human life. Continue reading.

Fired Minneapolis Cop Derek Chauvin Arrested and Charged With Murder in George Floyd’s Death

The fired Minneapolis Police officer seen kneeling on George Floyd’s neck in video that ignited national protests has been arrested in the man’s death, authorities said. John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, announced Friday that Derek Chauvin has been taken into custody in connection with Monday’s death.

He is one of four officers involved in Floyd’s arrest that spurred days of fiery protests in Minnesota’s largest city. Chauvin is white and Floyd was black. Demands for Chauvin’s arrest have raged since the video went viral.

Floyd, who was 46, died after being arrested after police answered a call about a store customer using a counterfeit bill.  Continue reading.