65º
Join Insider

INSIDER

TOU THAO

2 views of George Floyd onlookers: Desperate to help, or angry mob

2 views of George Floyd onlookers: Desperate to help, or angry mob

There is a growing crowd and what officers perceive to be a threat.”The carefully calibrated language by each side is no accident. She admitted raising her voice and using foul language “because I was desperate” to help Floyd. When Williams appeared to step off the curb and Thao touched him, Nelson said Williams threatened the officer. She confirmed to him that as time went on, more people gathered, voices became louder, and people got more angry. The answer, again, “No.”___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Ex-cop told onlooker Floyd was big, 'probably on something'

Ex-cop told onlooker Floyd was big, 'probably on something'

AdWhen Floyd was finally taken away by paramedics, Charles McMillian, a 61-year-old bystander who recognized Chauvin from the neighborhood, told the officer he didn't respect what Chauvin had done. At one point, he threw his upper body out of the car, and officers tried to push him back in. Lane was heard saying officers found a “weed pipe” on Floyd and wondered if he might be on PCP, saying Floyd's eyes were shaking back and forth fast. The officer also asked twice if the officers should roll Floyd on his side, and later said calmly that he thought Floyd was passing out. She later told the judge that she had been feeling stress and having trouble sleeping, but told the judge she was OK to proceed.

Witnesses: Onlooker anger increased as Floyd stopped moving

Witnesses: Onlooker anger increased as Floyd stopped moving

It seemed as if he didn’t care what we were saying,” said 18-year-old Darnella Frazier, one of several witnesses who testified through tears. Floyd was arrested after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Williams admitted under questioning that he told Thao he would beat the officers if Thao touched him again. But witnesses also testified that no bystanders actually interfered with police. From Chauvin, and from officer Thao.”Also Tuesday, prosecutors played cellphone video recorded by yet another bystander, 18-year-old Alyssa Funari, that showed onlookers shouting and screaming at Chauvin after Floyd stopped moving.

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death. AdFeb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death and the nationwide protests continue. Feb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Prosecutors: Officer was on Floyd's neck for about 9 minutes

Prosecutors: Officer was on Floyd's neck for about 9 minutes

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. The fact that the figure has evolved probably won't matter at Chauvin’s trial, which begins Monday with jury selection. He had been handcuffed and was pleading that he couldn't breathe, but Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he stopped moving and speaking. The narrative in the initial complaint filed May 29 by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. This means Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for at least nine minutes flat, but possibly for as long as 9 minutes, 31 seconds.

Federal grand jury hearing evidence in death of George Floyd

Federal grand jury hearing evidence in death of George Floyd

The New York Times first reported that a grand jury was hearing testimony against Chauvin. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a nationwide reckoning on race. Like Chauvin, all three were fired soon after Floyd’s death. It’s unclear what specifically prompted the increased grand jury activity in the last few weeks, though most federal grand juries are discharged after about 18 months. Barr rejected the deal in part because he felt it was too soon as the investigation into Floyd’s death was still in its relative infancy, the officials said.

Officer with knee to George Floyd's neck to be tried alone

Officer with knee to George Floyd's neck to be tried alone

Chauvin, who held his knee to the neck of George Floyd for several minutes, will be tried separately from three other former officers accused in his death, according to scheduling orders filed Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS – A former Minneapolis police officer who held his knee to George Floyd's neck for minutes will be tried separately from the three other former officers accused in his death, according to an order filed Tuesday that cites limited courtroom space due to COVID-19 restrictions. Derek Chauvin will stand trial alone in March while the other three former officers will be tried together in the summer. Former officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are each charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Defense attorneys had argued last year that the officers should be tried separately, but prosecutors argued against it.

Delay sought in ex-officers' trial over George Floyd's death

Delay sought in ex-officers' trial over George Floyd's death

Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Prosecutors cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of time needed before enough people are vaccinated and health risks are sufficiently diminished. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)MINNEAPOLIS – Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, said he doesn't intend to object to the prosecution seeking a delay in the trial. “The pandemic has been around for a while.”Thao’s lawyer, Robert Paule, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Judge rejects moving trial of ex-officers in Floyd's death

Judge rejects moving trial of ex-officers in Floyd's death

MINNEAPOLIS – A judge on Thursday rejected defense requests to move the trial of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death, and also ordered that all four will be tried together instead of separately. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill ruled after defense attorneys had argued that pretrial publicity had made it impossible for the four men to get a fair trial in Minneapolis. But Cahill said he was not convinced that moving the trial would improve security, and that he believes the jury can be protected from outside influences. Moving the trial away from Minneapolis to a less diverse area also likely would affect the makeup of the jury, though the judge didn't address that issue. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.

Judge dismisses 1 charge against former cop in Floyd’s death

Judge dismisses 1 charge against former cop in Floyd’s death

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota judge has dismissed a third-degree murder charge filed against the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck, saying there was not enough probable cause for that count to proceed to trial. Cahill also found probable cause to move forward with the aiding and abetting counts against three other former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao. He said prosecutors do not need to show Chauvin's actions were the sole cause of Floyd’s death. “This is not an appropriate case for a third-degree murder charge,” he said. When the third-degree murder charge was filed, the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union asked the state to take over the case from Hennepin County, saying more serious charges were warranted.