The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor
More facts on the arrest and death of George Floyd
It is important that everyone read the “Statement of Probable Cause” that was filed with the arrest warrant of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
It’s important because it provides facts that don’t seem to be reported about the arrest of Floyd, the resistance that he put up (as opposed to the widely circulated statement that he provided no resistance) and what the other officers did during the entire incident. I am not trying to prejudge the case; only to provide information.
27-CR-20-12646 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE 5/29/2020
On May 25, 2020, someone called 911 and reported that a man bought merchandise from Cup Foods at 3759 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota with a counterfeit $20 bill. At 8:08 p.m., Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) Officers Thomas Lane and J.A. Kueng arrived with their body worn cameras (BWCs) activated and running. The officers learned from store personnel that the man who passed the counterfeit $20 was parked in a car around the corner from the store on 38th Street.
BWC video obtained by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shows that the officers approached the car, Lane on the driver’s side and Kueng on the passenger side. Three people were in the car; George Floyd was in the driver’s seat, a known adult male was in the passenger seat and a known adult female was sitting in the backseat. As Officer Lane began speaking with Mr. Floyd, he pulled his gun out and pointed it at Mr. Floyd’s open window and directed Mr. Floyd to show his hands. When Mr. Floyd put his hands in the steering wheel, Lane put his gun back in its holster.
While Officer Kueng was speaking with the front seat passenger, Officer Lane ordered Mr. Floyd out of the car, put his hands on Mr. Floyd, and pulled him out of the car. Officer Lane handcuffed Mr. Floyd. Mr. Floyd actively resisted being handcuffed.
Once handcuffed, Mr. Floyd became compliant and walked with Officer Lane to the sidewalk and sat on the ground at Officer Lane’s direction. In a conversation that lasted just under two minutes, Officer Lang asked Mr. Floyd for his name and identification. Officer Lane asked Mr. Lloyd if he was “on anything” and explained that he was arresting Mr. Lloyd for passing counterfeit currency.
Officers Kueng and Lane stood Mr. Floyd up and attempted to walk Mr. Floyd to their squad car (MPD 320) at 8:14 p.m. Mr. Floyd stiffened up, fell to the ground, and told the officers he was claustrophobic.
MPD Officers Derek Chauvin (the defendant) and Tou Thoa then arrived in a separate squad car.
The officers made several attempts to get Mr. Floyd in the backseat of squad 320 from the driver’s side. Mr. Floyd did not voluntarily get in the car and struggled with the officers by intentionally falling down, saying he was not going in the car, and refusing to stand still. Mr. Floyd is over six feet tall and weighs more than 200 pounds.
While standing outside the car, Mr. Floyd began saying and repeating that he could not breathe. The defendant went to the passenger side and tried to get Mr. Floyd into the car from that side and Lane and Kueng assisted.
The defendant pulled Mr. Floyd out of the passenger side of the squad car at 8:19:38 p.m. and Mr. Floyd went to the ground face down and still handcuffed. Kueng held Mr. Floyd’s back and Lane held his legs. The defendant placed his left knee in the area of Mr. Floyd’s head and neck. Mr. Floyd said, “I can’t breathe” multiple times and repeatedly said, “Mama” and “please,” as well. The defendant and the other two officers stayed in their positions.
The officers said, “You are talking fine” to Mr. Floyd as he continued to move back and forth. Lane asked, “should we roll him on his side?” and the defendant said, “No, staying put where we got him.” Officer Lane said, “I am worried about excited delirium or whatever.” The defendant said, “That’s why we have him on his stomach.” None of the three officers moved from their positions.
BWC video shows Mr. Floyd continue to move and breathe. At 8:24:24, Mr. Floyd stopped moving. At
2
27-CR-20-12646 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 8:25:31 the video appears to show Mr. Floyd ceasing to breathe or speak. Lane said, “want to roll him5/o2n9/2020
his side.” Kueng checked Mr. Floyd’s right wrist for a pulse and said, “I couldn’t find one.” None of the officers moved from their positions.
At 8:27:24, the defendant removed his knee from Mr. Floyd’s neck. An ambulance and emergency medical personnel arrived, the officers placed Mr. Floyd on a gurney, and the ambulance left the scene. Mr. Floyd was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner (ME) conducted Mr. Floyd’s autopsy on May 26, 2020. The full report of the ME is pending but the ME has made the following preliminary findings. The autopsy revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation. Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death.
The defendant had his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total. Two minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Mr. Floyd was non-responsive. Police are trained that this type of restraint with a subject in a prone position is inherently dangerous.
Defendant is in custody.
Filed under:
Crime
Tags:
Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, statement of probable cause
-
Advertisement:
-
Advertisement:
-
Welcome to ChicagoNow.
-
-
Visit my new website
I’m a freelance writer, editor and author. I can help you with a wide variety of projects. Check out my new website at www.dennisbyrne.net
-
Subscribe to The Barbershop
Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
-
Dennis Byrne’s Facebook Fan Page
[embedded content] -
Blogroll
The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor’s favorite blogs -
Like me on Facebook
[embedded content] -
Blogroll
The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor’s favorite blogs- Blithe Spirit
Assorted commentary offered in lieu of organized commentary that is not yet organized - Center for Media and Public Affiars
- Chicago Daily Observer
Intelligent commentary about Chicago politics - Forgotten Chicago
A great site featuring what Chicago used to be and how it got to what it is now. - Pat Hickey’s “With Both Hands”
- QT brought to you by Zay Smith
Chicago’s wittiest columnist
- Blithe Spirit
-
Our National Debt
-
Twitter
-
Tags
- politics (269)
- Illinois (163)
- Chicago (157)
- Obama (105)
- Barack Obama (76)
- Obamacare (71)
- elections (69)
- Donald Trump (65)
- health care (62)
- Democrats (62)
-
Recent Comments
-
AnonymousBosch
5 hours, 51 minutes ago
I don’t understand what your conclusion in this article is. Are you saying we shouldn’t try to fix racism because… -
Trump has been on the political scene for a mere blink of an eye. A black man was elected president…
-
Aquinas wired
8 hours, 9 minutes ago
How about de facto segregation and discrimination? It wasn’t that long ago when Trump and his daddy… -
Dennis Byrne
12 hours, 33 minutes ago
True. -
Aquinas wired
12 hours, 38 minutes ago
Eyewitnesses say they saw no resistance from Floyd.
-
-
-
/Users/dennisby/Desktop/trailer.mp4
-
Recent posts
-
Is “systemic racism” buried in our DNA? No, I think not »
Dennis Byrne on The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, ProprietorPosted today at 1:40 pm -
More facts on the arrest and death of George Floyd »
Dennis Byrne on The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, ProprietorPosted today at 10:43 am -
Who dares to demand due process for Derek Chauvin? »
Dennis Byrne on The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, ProprietorPosted Saturday at 8:56 am -
Blindly following “the science” into ruin »
Dennis Byrne on The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, ProprietorPosted Friday at 2:42 pm -
The lockdown’s deadly impact on Chicago’s and America’s hospitals »
Dennis Byrne on The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, ProprietorPosted Wednesday at 12:54 pm
-
-
Latest on ChicagoNow
-
Remember to Wear Sun Screen Under Your Mask and Sunglasses: UV Rays Are Hazardous, Too
from All is Well by twin
posted today at 9:41 pm -
‘White Pride’ sign spray-painted in Naperville park
from ChicagoNow Staff Blog by ChicagoNow Staff
posted today at 8:03 pm -
Chicago a City under Siege/ Totally Unprepared and Undermanned/ The National Guard Arrives?AGAIN
from JUST SAYIN by BOB ANGONE
posted today at 6:33 pm -
One cop, one murder and all that it has led to: The George Floyd tragedy and the aftermath
from When You Put It That Way by Teppi Jacobsen
posted today at 2:25 pm -
Is “systemic racism” buried in our DNA? No, I think not
from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted today at 1:40 pm
-
-
Posts from related blogs
-
When You Put It That Way
Most recent post: One cop, one murder and all that it has led to: The George Floyd tragedy and the aftermath
-
The Patriotic Dissenter
Most recent post: Illinois vs Indiana: Comparing the two States COVID Response, Reopening Plans
-
Margaret Serious
Most recent post: Looking for passing places as I walk
More from News: Opinion
-
-
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
-
Cubs Den
Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends -
Pets in need of homes
Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area -
The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor
Chicago writer, editor and author blogs about today’s political and public policy issues.
-
-
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
-
BOB ANGONE
from JUST SAYIN: -
LeaGrover
from Becoming SuperMommy: -
Howard Moore
-
-
Advertisement:
- About ChicagoNow
- •
- FAQs
- •
- Advertise
- •
- Recent posts RSS
- •
- Privacy policy (Updated)
- •
- Comment policy
- •
- Terms of service
- •
- Chicago Tribune Archives
- •
- Chicago Internet Marketing Services
©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
2 comments