Minneapolis Pays $8.9M To People Who Said Chauvin Kneeled On Them

MINNEAPOLIS — The city of Minneapolis agreed to pay nearly $9 million to two people who said Derek Chauvin kneeled on them in 2017, years before the murder of George Floyd.

The City Council unanimously voted Thursday to approve the settlements in Pope v. Chauvin, et al. and Code v. Chauvin, et al.

A $7.5 million settlement was approved for John Pope and $1.375 million for Zoya Code.

The body-worn camera footage of both incidents is considered private data under Minnesota law. However, the plaintiffs may choose to release the video.

"Today, nearly six years after they occurred, we are forced to reckon once again with the deplorable acts of someone who has proven to be a national embarrassment to our profession and the continued harm he has caused our community," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement.

"More than another iteration of the hateful and violent legacy of this former employee, this is another example of the cancer that has plagued this agency."

The city provided the summary below of Pope's incident:

On the evening of Sept. 4, 2017, MPD officers responded to John Pope’s home for the report of a domestic assault. John Pope, who was 14 at the time, lived at the residence with his mother and sister.

Chauvin was one of two officers who initially responded to the call. With him was Alexander Walls, an officer Chauvin was training at the time. The complaint says when the officers arrived at the house around 8:45 p.m., it was "quiet and peaceful.”

When the officers arrived, they were equipped with department-issued body-worn cameras that were activated and captured detailed video and audio of the incident, including the criminal use of force by Chauvin.

The officers were let into the house by John Pope’s mother, who, according to the complaint, was “clearly and obviously drunk.”

John Pope’s mother told officers she wanted her son and daughter removed from the home after an interaction about unplugging phone chargers from the wall. John Pope’s mother told officers her son had "grabbed her” and tried to “wrestle her or whatever” after their conversation. She also said John Pope’s sister had made contact with her.

The complaint says John Pope’s mother spoke calmly and did not say she had any injuries or show proof she had any. She proceeded to fill out domestic-assault paperwork that the officers provided to her.

More than 30 minutes later, Chauvin and Walls eventually followed John Pope’s mother to an open bedroom door, where John Pope was laying on the ground inside, quietly using his cell phone.

Walls asked John Pope to come out, but according to the complaint, did not allow time for the then 14-year-old to comply. Instead, Walls walked inside the room and told John Pope he was under arrest and to stand up. John Pope responded to the officer by saying his mother had assaulted him and was drunk, and that the officers could verify these events with his sister.

After a few moments, Walls then reached out and grabbed John Pope’s wrist. Chauvin entered the bedroom right behind Walls with a large metal flashlight in his hand. At no time did John Pope threaten the officers and he did not pose immediate threat.

Chauvin moved straight towards John Pope and within seconds, struck John Pope at least twice on the head with a large metal flashlight.

Chauvin strangled John Pope with his left hand as he gripped John Pope’s throat and shoved John Pope against the wall. Chauvin applied a neck restraint to John Pope that rendered John Pope unconscious.

After John Pope regained consciousness, for more than fifteen minutes, Chauvin kept John Pope in a prone position, handcuffed, while Chauvin kneeled on John Pope’s neck and upper back.

During that time John Pope cried out and pleaded with the officers— John Pope said he couldn’t breathe and repeatedly asked that Chauvin’s knee be taken off his neck.

According to the complaint, at least eight officers* responded to the house throughout the incident and observed Chauvin with his knee across John Pope’s neck and back.

Paramedics eventually arrived at the house and Chauvin was still kneeling on John Pope’s neck. One paramedic examined John Pope’s head and said he would need stitches.

John Pope was eventually rolled over by officers and stood up. He was then walked from the home to an ambulance and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

Officers filed reports documenting their actions the night of Sept. 4, 2017. Many significant details in the officers’ reports are not consistent with what happened.

The city provided the summary below of Code's incident:

Two MPD officers, including Chauvin, were dispatched to a residence on Oakland Avenue South in Minneapolis on the evening of June 25, 2017.

Zoya Code’s mother had called the police, alleging Zoya Code had assaulted and strangled her with an extension cord.

Zoya Code had left the residence before police arrived and returned once the officers were inside the residence.

When Zoya Code returned, she walked by Chauvin in the living room. A brief struggle ensued between Zoya Code and the two officers. The two officers brought Zoya Code to the ground and handcuffed her without incident.

Chauvin proceeded to apply “upward force” to Zoya Code’s handcuffed arms, moving them up towards the back of her head.

Chauvin carried Zoya Code out of the residence by her arms, while the other officer carried her feet.

Once outside, Chauvin slammed Zoya Code’s head into the ground, and then kneeled on the back of her neck. He remained in this position for several minutes.

Chauvin eventually asked the other officer with him to retrieve a hobble* from their squad car. A hobble is a device that limits a person’s motion by tethering their legs together and securing them to the person’s waist.

The officers applied the hobble device to Zoya Code, while she remained limp. Chauvin remained on Zoya Code’s neck for more than a minute after the device was on her.

Once Chauvin got off Zoya Code, he carried her by one arm to the squad car.

An MPD Sergeant responded to the scene and “reviewed and approved” the use of force. Zoya Code was brought to Hennepin County Jail and booked.

Zoya Code was charged with domestic assault arising from the incident, but the charge was later dropped.

Chauvin later filed a report about the encounter with Zoya Code. Chauvin lied in the report and left out critical information about the interaction