Officer charged as protests take over American cities
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck as Floyd begged for air was arrested Friday and charged with murder, as authorities imposed curfews to try to stem violent protests across the U.S. over police killings of black Americans.
Thousands of protesters marched through Minneapolis past curfew and encircled a police precinct station. “Prosecute the police!” some chanted. There was no violence, but some protesters sprayed graffiti on buildings. Elsewhere in the city, officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets to drive back protesters.
It wasn’t clear if, or how, authorities would enforce the curfew amid sharp questions about how city and state leaders have handled the crisis. The restrictions came a night after protesters torched an abandoned police station.
Officer Derek Chauvin, 44, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was also accused of ignoring another officer who expressed concerns about Floyd as Floyd lay handcuffed on the ground, pleading that he could not breathe as Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes. Floyd, who was black, had been arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a store. Chauvin, who was fired along with three other officers who were at the scene, faces more than 12 years in prison if convicted of murder.
Lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, welcomed the arrest, but said he expected a more serious murder charge and wants the other officers arrested, too.
Prosecutor Mike Freeman said more charges were possible, but authorities “felt it appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s curfew also will be in place today. Nearby cities announced similar restrictions.
“I know that whatever hope you feel today is tempered with skepticism and a righteous outrage,” Frey said in a statement. “Today’s decision from the county attorney is an essential first step on a longer road toward justice and healing our city.”
Protests across the U.S. were fuelled by outrage over Floyd’s death and years of police violence against black Americans.
Protesters smashed windows at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, and set a police car on fire and struck officers with bottles. Large demonstrations in New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and other cities ranged from people peacefully blocking roads to clashing with police.
“You are disgracing our city,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told protesters. “You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.”
Police were trying to put Floyd in a squad car Monday when he stiffened and fell to the ground, saying he was claustrophobic, a criminal complaint said. Chauvin and Officer Tou Thoa arrived and tried several times to get the struggling Floyd into the car.
Chauvin pulled Floyd out of the passenger side, and the handcuffed Floyd went to the ground face down. Officer J.K. Kueng held Floyd’s back and Officer Thomas Lane held his legs while Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s head and neck area, the complaint said. When Lane asked if Floyd should be rolled onto his side, Chauvin said: “No, staying put is where we got him.”
An autopsy said the combined effects of being restrained, potential intoxicants in Floyd’s system and his underlying health issues, including heart disease, likely contributed to his death. It revealed nothing to support strangulation as the cause of death.
Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, 46 seconds, including nearly three minutes after Floyd stopped moving and talking, the complaint said. Chauvin’s lawyer declined to comment Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Floyd’s family and “expressed my sorrow.”
Trump called video of Floyd’s arrest “just a horrible thing to witness and to watch. It certainly looked like there was no excuse for it.”
Crump asked to take custody of Floyd’s body for an independent autopsy.
State and federal authorities are also investigating Floyd’s death.
The owner of a Latin nightclub said Floyd and Chauvin both worked there as security guards as recently as last year, but it’s not clear whether they worked together. Chauvin was as an offduty security guard at the El Nuevo Rodeo club for nearly two decades and Floyd had worked there for about a dozen events, Maya Santamaria said.