NEW YORK — A fired Minneapolis police officer charged alongside two former colleagues with violating George Floyd's civil rights during the fatal arrest took the witness stand in his own defense on Tuesday, saying he 'had a different role' than restraining the 46-year-old handcuffed Black man.
NEW YORK — A fired Minneapolis police officer charged alongside two former colleagues with violating George Floyd's civil rights during the fatal arrest took the witness stand in his own defense on Tuesday, saying he"had a different role" than restraining the 46-year-old handcuffed Black man.
Thao's attorney Robert Paule, displayed for the jury a photo of Thao taken during training in 2009 at the police academy. It showed him and another cadet pinning a handcuffed actor posing as a suspect to the ground in a prone position. Thao explained that he and the other cadet were using their knees to restrain the suspect.
"From my experience, Cup Foods is hostile to police. It’s a well-known Bloods gang hangout," Thao testified, adding that he figured Lane and Kueng would not have been aware of that because they were rookies. He testified that Floyd complained that he couldn't breathe while the officers were trying to get him into the squad car. He noted that such a complaint"became a regular occurrence" after Eric Garner, a 43-year-old Black man, died in 2014 after a New York City police officer placed him in a banned chokehold and he repeatedly complained,"I can't breathe.
Paule then asked why he didn't get physically involved in dealing with Floyd. Thao responded,"I had a different role. I assumed they were caring for him."Thao testified that he didn't realize the seriousness of Floyd's condition until after paramedics took him away in an ambulance and firefighters arrived on the scene looking to assist paramedics with CPR.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prosecution rests in 3 cops’ trial in George Floyd killingA use-of-force expert testified that the conduct used by three Minneapolis police officers was 'inconsistent' with generally accepted policing practices.
Read more »
Prosecution rests in officers’ trial in George Floyd killingJ. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are charged with violating Floyd’s constitutional rights while acting under government authority. All three are accused of depriving Floyd, a 46-y…
Read more »
2 cops plan to testify about Floyd killing; prosecutors restST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors rested their case Monday against three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights, setting the stage for two of the officers to soon take the stand as part of their defense.
Read more »
George Zimmerman's Bullshit Lawsuit Got DismissedThankfully, a judge in Florida just dismissed George Zimmerman’s defamation and conspiracy lawsuit that he filed against the parents of Trayvon Martin.
Read more »