Minnesota’s Attorney General says he expects ‘there will be charges’ filed against the four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd as the cops say they don’t plan to cooperate with the investigation.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day as he was arrested by four cops over allegedly trying to buy cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.
He was seen in a video pleading that he couldn’t breathe as white officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck.
Ellison, the Attorney General, told CNN that officials are ensuring they have ‘a very strong case’ before announcing charges.
‘Everybody believes that this is a violation of Mr Floyd,’ Ellison said.
‘And I believe that everybody wants to see these charges filed as soon as they can be. But again, I do want to say we have seen cases that seem so clear go south.’
Chauvin and the other three officers in Floyd’s arrest – J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao – were fired but say they don’t plan to cooperate.
On Friday, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. It is unknown if any of the other three officers were arrested.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day as he was arrested by four police officers over allegedly trying to buy cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. He was seen in a video pleading that he couldn’t breathe as white officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he expects ‘there will be charges’ filed against the four police officers, who were later fired for their conduct. Chauvin has since been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter
Ellison said officials want a ‘very strong case’ before any charges are filed. Pictured: Ellison answers questions about the investigation into the death of Floyd, May 27
‘Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says the officers involved in #GeorgeFloyd death are not cooperating with law enforcement,’ tweeted Courtney Godfrey, a reporter for Fox 9.
‘They are pleading the 5th.’
Pleading the fifth amendment prohibits defendants from self-incrimination and double jeopardy as well as mandates due process of law, meaning fair treatment through the judicial system.
According to a police statement, officers said they located Floyd in his car around 8pm and ordered him to exit the vehicle.
A police spokesman alleged Floyd got out of the car before ‘physically resisting officers’.
But video footage, obtained by FOX 9 on Wednesday, showed Floyd appearing to comply with officers and not resisting arrest.
In the 10-minute video widely shared on social media on Tuesday, Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes. He eventually lost consciousness.
An incident report released by the Minneapolis Fire Department on Wednesday detailed how paramedics worked on a ‘unresponsive, pulseless’ Floyd, who was pronounced dead at hospital.
The delay in bringing about murder charges sparked protests, looting and riots in Minneapolis across the country.
Floyd’s death was compared to that of Eric Garner, a black man in New York who lost his life after he was placed in a chokehold by white police officer for selling lose cigarettes while yelling out: ‘I can’t breathe!’
Chauvin, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao were all fired after video of the arrest emerged. Pictured: Floyd before his death
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freema says the officers don’t plan to cooperate with the investigation and have pleaded the fifth amendment
Ellison said that ‘unfortunately, it is taking more time than any of us want’ and that he sympathizes with everybody ‘who’s demanding charges.’
CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota asked Ellison If any details from the autopsy could lead to no charges being filed.
‘I can’t believe what can be in there to change my mind,’ he replied.
Ellison later condemned many of the violent protests and President Donald Trump over tweeting ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts.’
The lack of murder charges have sparked protests, looting and riots in Minneapolis across the country. Pictured: Protesters burn the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct during protests over Floyd’s death, May 28
Ellison pleaded for the protests to stay peaceful because violence begets violence. Pictured: A group of demonstrators in Midtown Memphis on May 27
Trump also referred to the protestors as ‘thugs.’
‘We need the president & everybody else who thinks that you can get to a better place through threats of violence, to stop it,’ Ellison told CBS This Morning.
‘I think violence begets violence and Trump’s angry words just feed an ugly cycle that is going on in my beloved city which I’m so proud of.’
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also called on prosecutors to arrest and charge the officers involved in Floyd’s death.
‘If most people, particularly people of color, had done what a police officer did late Monday, they’d already be behind bars,’ Frey said in a tweet on Wednesday.
‘That’s why today I’m calling on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to charge the arresting officer in this case.’