Minneapolis – The four former Minneapolis police officers accused of violating George Floyd’s civil rights are scheduled to be summoned in federal court on Tuesday. The hearing may also involve some pretrial motions.
The federal grand jury sued Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao in May, accusing them of depriving Freud of rights under the authorization of the government on May 25, 2020, because the 46-year-old Freud had no resistance from being face down, handcuffed, and restrained in the bystander video. His death caused protests all over the world and called for changes in policing.
At the federal arraignment hearing, the defendant can read the charges to them and usually enter a plea of innocence. Both parties will attend the hearing on Tuesday through a video conference.
Prosecutors and lawyers of former officials can also debate several motions on Tuesday.
Among them, Kueng and Thao demanded that their federal trial be separated from Chauvin’s trial, and stated that if they were to be tried with him, they would be unfairly prejudiced. Ryan asked to join this request, but was opposed by the prosecutor. Court documents show that it is not clear whether the issue will appear at the hearing on Tuesday, because both parties agreed that the request was too early and asked to shelve it until more information emerged.
The federal indictment alleges that Chau Wan violated Freud’s right to be protected from unreasonable police seizure and unreasonable force. Thao and Kueng were accused of violating Floyd’s right to be protected from unreasonable seizure because Chauvin did not intervene when Chauvin was kneeling on Floyd’s neck. All four police officers were also accused of depriving Freud of his rights when he failed to provide medical services.
During Freud’s arrest, he repeatedly said that when Shavin pressed him to the ground, he could not breathe. Kueng and Lane helped control Floyd; according to evidence from the state court, Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, and Lane hugged Floyd’s leg. During the 9 1/2 minute restriction, Thao stopped bystanders and prevented them from intervening.
The four police officers were also charged in state courts. Due to space constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chauvin’s trial was eventually separated from the others. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in April and was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison. The other three former military officers will be tried by the state in March next year on charges of aiding and abetting.
Xiao Wan was also charged in another federal indictment alleging that he violated the civil rights of a 14-year-old boy in 2017.
At the same time, the federal government is investigating police practices in Minneapolis. Known as “models or practices” investigations—checking whether there are unconstitutional or illegal policing patterns or practices—include a comprehensive review of the entire police station. This could lead to major changes in police services in Minnesota.
