Alleged Minneapolis ‘killer cop,’ Derek Chauvin is charged with the murder and manslaughter of George Floyd after he knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes in video leading to death – Sparking days of violent protests
“This is by far the fastest that we’ve ever charged a police officer” – Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is charged with the murder and manslaughter of George Floyd e
Derek Chauvin, 44, the officer seen kneeling on George Floyd neck during his arrest, has been taken into custody
Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes in the video which has sparked violent protests nationwide
Commissioner John Harrington announced Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the MPD was arrested by state prosecutors on Friday afternoon
It comes after Minneapolis was left in ruins following three night of riots and protests over perceived reluctance to charge Floyd’s killers
Three other officers involved in the controversial arrest, Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were fired Tuesday alongside Chauvin over Floyd’s death, but have not been charged
Investigations are ongoing and prosecutors chose to focus on the ‘most dangerous perpetrator,’ Freeman said
Chaotic scenes and protests also unfolded across several states including New York, Colorado and Ohio
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder after he was seen kneeling on the neck of black man George Floyd in a video of his arrest that shocked the world and sparked violent protests across the country
The fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested four days after George Floyd’s fatal arrest that sparked deadly protests, rioting and arson in the city and a general outcry across the nation, and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced he has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Making the announcement on Friday, John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said Chauvin was taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Minneapolis. There had been some speculation that he had gone to a home in Florida.
“We have now been able to put together the evidence that we need. Even as late as yesterday afternoon, we did not have all that we needed,” Freeman said, before saying that he was unable to speak to specific pieces of evidence and which one specifically was needed to file charges.
“This is by far the fastest that we’ve ever charged a police officer,” Freeman said.
Freeman says the other officers involved are under investigation and he “anticipates charges.”
“But I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “Today, we’re talking about former officer Chauvin.”
Mayor Jacob Frey called the decision to charge “an essential first step on a longer road toward justice and healing our city.”
“What’s happened in Minneapolis is bigger than any one city and any single event,” Frey said. “For our Black community who have, for centuries, been forced to endure injustice in a world simply unwilling to correct or acknowledge it: I know that whatever hope you feel today is tempered with skepticism and a righteous outrage.”
George Floyd, [L-R], a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day as he was arrested by four police officers over allegedly trying to buy cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. His family has called for the four cops involved in his death to be charged with murder
Ben Crump, the attorney representing Floyd’s family, released a statement on their behalf, saying that they were expecting first-degree murder charges.
“We call on authorities to revise the charges to reflect the true culpability of this officer,” the statement said.
The 44-year-old white cop was arrested by state investigators on Friday afternoon and was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced.
His arrest comes a day after prosecutors had warned there was ‘evidence that did not support criminal charges’ in the case, saying they needed to prove Chauvin had used ‘excessive’ force on Floyd.
Freeman said prosecutors were able to formally lay charges after the office was able to ‘gather the evidence that we need.’
He did not have immediate details, but said a criminal complaint would be made publicly available later.
As for the other three officers who were fired alongside Chauvin over Floyd’s death – J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao – Freeman said the investigation is still ongoing and prosecutors chose to focus on the ‘most dangerous perpetrator’.
The charges come after three days of riots and protests that erupted across Minneapolis – and several states – demanding justice for 46-year-old Floyd.
Protests broke out outside a home owned by fired officer Derek Chauvin in Windermere, Florida on Friday. Authorities said Chauvin was arrested in Minneapolis, but there had been speculation that he had gone home to Florida
Protesters kneel before a line of police officers protecting the home of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, in Oakdale, Minnesota
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day as he was arrested by four police officers over allegedly trying to buy cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. He was seen in a widely circulated video pleading that he couldn’t breathe as white officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck.
Wanton murder: Former Minneapolis police officer was seen in a shocking video circulated around the globe with his knee pressed knee on George Floyd’s neck until he’s motionless
In Minneapolis crowds spilled on to the streets chanting: ‘One down, three to go’, while in Florida, protesters rallied outside a town home belonging to the former cop.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Friday acknowledged the ‘abject failure’ of the response to this week’s violent protests and called for swift justice.
On both Tuesday and Wednesday, protests began with peaceful demonstrations near where Floyd was pinned to the ground, but violence later broke out near the 3rd Precinct police station. Wednesday evening’s protests involved more than 30 fires, destruction of businesses and looting.
Unrest was more widespread Thursday night, with destruction spreading to St. Paul, where more than 170 businesses were damaged. In Minneapolis, rioters burned the 3rd Precinct police station.
Earlier Friday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the looting and arson must come to an end so that state can address the problems that led to Floyd’s death.
“We cannot have the looting and recklessness that went on,” he said. “It’s time for us to clean our streets.”
At that same press conference, Harrington, the commissioner of public safety, called Floyd’s death a murder.
“That’s what it looked like to me,” he said. “I’ll call it as I see it.”
Floyd’s death is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI in Minneapolis and the Department of Justice Civil Rights division.
Keith Ellison, the Attorney General, earlier told CNN that officials were ensuring they have ‘a very strong case’ before they could announce charges.
‘Everybody believes that this is a violation of Mr Floyd,’ Ellison said. ‘And I believe that everybody wants to see these charges filed as soon as they can be. But again, I do want to say we have seen cases that seem so clear go south.’
At a press conference on Thursday Mike Freeman, county attorney for Hennepin County, condemned the actions of white cop Derek Chauvin as ‘horrific and terrible’, but said prosecutors needed to determine if he used ‘excessive’ force when he knelt on the black man’s neck for eight minutes until he passed out and later died.
‘That video is graphic and horrific and terrible and no person should do that,’ he said.
‘But my job in the end is to prove he violated a criminal statute – but there is other evidence that does not support a criminal charge.’
“What’s happened in Minneapolis is bigger than any one city and any single event,” Frey said. “For our Black community who have, for centuries, been forced to endure injustice in a world simply unwilling to correct or acknowledge it: I know that whatever hope you feel today is tempered with skepticism and a righteous outrage.”
Ben Crump, the attorney representing Floyd’s family, released a statement on their behalf, saying that they were expecting first-degree murder charges.
“We call on authorities to revise the charges to reflect the true culpability of this officer,” the statement said.
In his statement Gov. Walz noted that the state would take over the response and that it’s time to show respect and dignity to those who are suffering.
‘Minneapolis and St. Paul are on fire. The fire is still smoldering in our streets. The ashes are symbolic of decades and generations of pain, of anguish unheard,’ Walz said, adding. ‘Now generations of pain is manifesting itself in front of the world – and the world is watching.’
The governor cited a call he received from a state senator who described her district ‘on fire, no police, no firefighters, no social control, constituents locked in houses wondering what they were going to do. That is an abject failure that cannot happen.’
‘We have to restore order…before we turn back to where we should be spending our energy – making sure that justice is served,’ he said.
‘We cannot have the looting and the recklessness that went on [last night],’ Walz said.
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