Cops Convicted For Lack Of Intervention In George Floyd's Death

ST. PAUL, MN — A federal jury found three former Minneapolis police officers guilty Thursday of civil rights violations in the death of George Floyd.

Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao faced civil rights violations in Floyd's May 2020 death, including denying Floyd medical aid. Former officer Derek Chauvin was also charged, but he pleaded guilty in December and did not have to stand trial.

Chauvin was given a federal sentence of 22½ years. Kueng, Lane, and Thao could receive anywhere from a year to life in prison from Judge Paul A. Magnuson.

The three-count indictment against them claimed that the four men — acting in their capacity as police officers — "willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights" while Floyd was in their custody.

Their actions resulted in Floyd's death, the indictment stated.

"Those who have sworn to enforce our nation’s laws must abide by them. Today’s verdict recognizes that two police officers violated the Constitution by failing to intervene to stop another officer from killing Mr. Floyd, and three officers violated the Constitution by failing to provide aid to Mr. Floyd in time to prevent his death," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a statement.

"The Justice Department will continue to seek accountability for law enforcement officers whose actions, or failure to act, violate their constitutional duty to protect the civil rights of our citizens."

Here's the evidence admitted into court that led to the convictions of Chauvin, Kueng, and Tou.

Chauvin, Kueng stayed on Floyd long after it was necessary

Even after Floyd lost consciousness, no longer had a pulse, and completely stopped moving, Chauvin and Kueng kept their knees on his body.

None of the officers ever rendered aid to Floyd, despite being legally required to do so as officers.

Lane and Kueng lied

Following Floyd's death, Lane and Kueng were twice questioned about the arrest by a Minneapolis police supervisor named Lt. Richard Zimmerman. During both interviews, Lane and Kueng both omitted that Chauvin had knelt on Floyd’s neck. They also did not mention that Floyd had been restrained on his stomach for nine and a half minutes, lost consciousness, and did not have a pulse.

Additionally, according to evidence presented in court, Kueng lied and told Zimmerman that Floyd did not stop moving until after an ambulance arrived on the scene. Kueng admitted that was untrue during the trial, according to authorities.

Zimmerman said in the trial that after watching a video of Floyd's arrest, he realized he had been lied to.

Kueng and Thao failed to intervene during Chauvin's abuse of force

If a Minneapolis officer sees another officer using too much force or doing something illegal, the officer has a duty to intervene and try to stop it, regardless of rank or seniority, Zimmerman testified.

Neither Kueng nor Thao tried to stop Chauvin from abusing his power over Floyd, the jury in the case found.

The death of George Floyd

Just after 8 p.m. on Memorial Day 2020, police responded to the Cup Foods store on 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis for a report of a "forgery in progress."

Outside the store, police told Floyd he was under arrest.

In a video seen around the world, Floyd is heard telling officers, "I can't breathe," while he is forced down onto the street. He also asks for water.

Bystanders yelled at Chauvin to get off of Floyd, while officers Kueng and Lane assisted Chauvin. Meanwhile, Thao ordered people, including an off-duty EMS worker, to back away from the scene.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he went motionless. All four officers who were at the scene were fired the next day and later criminally charged.

Also read: Here's How The Police Initially Described George Floyd's Death