Ex-cop in Floyd case takes lesser charge

A former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the killing of former Houston resident George Floyd, admitting that he intentionally helped restrain the Black man in a way that created an unreasonable risk and caused his death.

As part of Thomas Lane’s plea agreement, a more serious count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder will be dismissed. Lane and former Officers J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao already have been convicted on federal counts of willfully violating Floyd’s rights.

While they have yet to be sentenced on the federal charges, Lane’s plea means he’ll avoid what could have been a lengthy state sentence.