• $1M bail set for 3 ex-officers accused in Floyd’s death,
MINNEAPOLIS — A judge set bail at $1 million apiece — $750,000 under certain conditions — on Thursday for three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting in the killing of George Floyd, as a memorial service took place just blocks away.
Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng made their first appearances in Hennepin County District Court as friends, relatives and celebrities gathered to memorialize Floyd at a nearby Bible college.
The Minneapolis Police Department fired them last week, along with Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s May 25 death.
District Court Judge Paul Scoggin set each of their bails at $1 million without conditions or $750,000 with conditions, which include surrendering any guns they have.
Defense attorneys argued for lower bail. Attorney Earl Gray, representing Mr. Lane, told the court Mr. Chauvin was the senior officer on the scene, and when Floyd died, it was only Mr. Lane’s fourth day on the job. It was also Mr. Kueng’s fourth day as an officer.
Mr. Gray said all Mr. Lane did was to hold Floyd’s feet so he couldn’t kick. He also pointed out the complaint says Mr. Lane asked Mr. Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd over and expressed concern he might be in delirium. The attorney said Mr. Lane performed CPR in the ambulance.
Attorneys for Mr. Kueng and Mr. Thao did not address the merits of the charges in court and told reporters afterward they declined to comment on the case for now out of respect for Floyd’s family on the day of his first memorial service.
Defendants don’t normally enter pleas during their first appearances in Minnesota courts, which tend to be brief proceedings. Judge Scoggin set their next court dates for June 29.
If convicted, Mr. Chauvin faces a maximum of 40 years in prison on the murder count and 10 years for manslaughter. Under Minnesota law, aiding and abetting second-degree murder is tantamount to a seconddegree murder charge, so Mr. Thao, Mr. Lane and Mr. Kueng face the same potential penalties as Mr. Chauvin if convicted.