Many around the world have been outraged at the death of George Floyd, a black-American unarmed man who was killed by Derek Chauvin, Minneapolis police officer.
Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis police officer who is now charged with murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd has been moved to two detention facilities in same day.
That anger shortly triggered anti-racist protests across America and beyond and have continued this week. George Floyd died shortly after he was pulled from his car by police officers during his arrest.
A white officer identified as Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than five minutes during an altercation. Floyd passed out after officers arrested him for allegedly trying to use forged documents at a local deli.
Video footage and CCTV taken during the altercation showed that Floyd appears to be complying with officers and not resist the arrest.
44-year-old Derek Chauvin has since been sacked and charged with third degree murder.
Being charged with third degree murder means he did commit the crime without intent to kill, but with ‘perverse indifference.’
Held in prison with access to phone
Derek Chauvin worked for the Minneapolis Police Department for more than 18 years.
Chauvin is being held at Oak Park Heights state prison, the highest custody level in the Minnesota corrections system.
“The move to DOC custody was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure he is safely held and after concern about space in the jail due to large numbers of arrests related to the unrest over the last few nights,” the state Department of Corrections said.
At that facility though he would have access to phones and video visitations. In-person visits are not allowed because of Covid-19 concerns.
Derek Chauvin had 18 prior complaints against him
Chauvin who has been serving as a police officer for over 18 years and during these years he has been the subject of 18 internal complaints before he knelt on Floyd’s neck.
Among all those complaints none resulted in any serious penalties. According to a MPD internal affairs public summary only two of the 18 complaints were “closed with discipline. In both cases, Chauvin received a letter of reprimand.
According to Communities Against Police Brutality, a Minnesota nonprofit that created a database of complaints against officers in the state, Chauvin received oral reprimands for using a “demeaning tone,” “derogatory language” and other language that merited discipline.
Derek Chauvin once worked security shifts with George Floyd at the same nightclub
Chauvin and George Floyd both worked as security at the El Nuevo Rodeo club, down the street from Minneapolis’ Third Precinct, former club owner Maya Santamaria told CNN.
Floyd worked some Tuesdays as extra security. Chauvin worked as an off-duty police officer for the club for nearly 17 years, Santamaria said.
“I wouldn’t characterize them as knowing each other,” she told CNN’s Josh Campbell in an interview. But, she added, “We all worked together certain nights and they would have crossed paths.”
Derek Chauvin’s Wife files for divorce
Chauvin’s wife has since his arrest filed for divorce, an attorney for his wife Kellie said.
“This evening, I spoke with Kellie Chauvin and her family. She is devastated by Mr. Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving this tragedy.
She has filed for dissolution of her marriage to Derek Chauvin,” a statement from Sekula Family Law office read.
“While Ms. Chauvin has no children from her current marriage, she respectfully requests that her children, her elder parents, and her extended family be given safety and privacy during this difficult time.”
In her filing for divorce from former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Kellie Chauvin requested a last-name change and the titles to both of their homes.
Kellie Chauvin separated from her husband on May 28, the day before he was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the death of George Floyd, according to the filing.
The filing cites an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” that was beyond saving. The couple has been married since June 2010, just under 10 years.
Mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter: She wants to know how he died
The mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter is calling for justice over his death.
“I want justice for him because he was good, no matter what anybody thinks,” Roxie Washington told reporters at a press conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
“He was good and this is the proof that he was a good man,” she added, pointing at their daughter Gianna.
Washington said Floyd had moved from Texas to Minneapolis looking for a better life. Even from afar, she said, Floyd was supportive of their daughter and would always talk about taking care of her.
When Washington first learned about Floyd’s passing, she told CNN that she didn’t know how to tell Gianna.
But soon Gianna asked why people on TV kept saying her dad’s name. Then, she wanted to know how Floyd had died.
“The only thing I could tell her is he couldn’t breathe,” Washington told CNN.
Kellie Chauvin and Tou Thao Are NOT Brother and Sister
Now we know the wife of Derek Chauvin, the white (former) cop charged with killing George Floyd is NOT related to Tou Thao, the Asian (ex) officer on the scene the now-infamous arrest of Floyd.
There had been rampant online speculation that Kellie Chauvin was the sister of Thao, but according to an Associated Press report, that’s simply not the case.
“Tou Thao is NOT Ms. Chauvin’s brother. I would GREATLY appreciate help putting that rumor to rest,” Amanda Mason-Sekula, her divorce lawyer, said in an email. “Her family has been harassed and threatened based on multiple incorrect reports.”
The interesting reality is that Kellie Chauvin does have a brother and he’s a police officer, but it’s not Thao. Her brother is a cop in St. Paul, said Mason-Sekula. She also noted that her brother was not involved in any aspect of Floyd’s death.
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