L-R Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane (mug shots)Three former Minneapolis police officers have been found guilty of violating George Floyd’s civil rights when they failed to intervene as former police officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd by pressing his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes.
Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng now face the possibility of life in prison.
BREAKING: A federal jury has found former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights during his deadly arrest. https://t.co/a5lOycXLY9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 24, 2022
From CBS News:
Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng were accused of violating Floyd’s civil rights during his arrest and death by denying him medical care.
Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop fellow officer Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd’s neck.
In closing arguments, the prosecution maintained that all three officers violated Floyd’s rights and their duties by not immediately offering him first aid when he began to struggle to breathe.
Derek Chauvin was convicted last April of murder in state court. In December, he pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge.
Breaking News: A jury found three former Minneapolis police officers guilty of violating George Floyd’s civil rights during the arrest that killed him, by failing to intervene when Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes. https://t.co/SzLJEdWZYK
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 24, 2022
Kueng and Lane both said they deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene.
Tou Thao testified that he relied on the other officers to care for Floyd's medical needs as he kept bystanders back. https://t.co/5S3OxZYv40
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 24, 2022
When Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck for nine minutes, killing him, three of his fellow police officers were watching.
They did not intervene.
They kept bystanders away.
They did not provide medical care to #GeorgeFloyd when he lost his pulse.Yes, they are guilty.
— Bobby L. Rush (@RepBobbyRush) February 24, 2022