FORMER cop Derek Chauvin had 18 previous complaints against him before the fatal arrest of George Floyd, according to the police department. Only two of the complaints were “closed with discipline” where a letter of reprimand was issued, CNN reported. However, the Minneapolis Police Department did not disclose to the outlet what the internal affairs […]
FORMER cop Derek Chauvin had 18 previous complaints against him before the fatal arrest of George Floyd, according to the police department.
Only two of the complaints were “closed with discipline” where a letter of reprimand was issued, CNN reported.
However, the Minneapolis Police Department did not disclose to the outlet what the internal affairs complaints were for.
The officer was arrested on Friday and charged with murder after footage was released of him kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes.
Chauvin has also been accused in court papers of ignoring another officer who was worried about the handcuffed black man who died after pleading that he could not breathe.
The 44-year-old was charged with with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the case, which sparked protests across the US and fires and looting in Minneapolis.
An attorney for Floyd’s family welcomed the arrest, but said he expected a more serious murder charge and wanted all the officers arrested.
The lawyer said the investigation into the other three officers continues, but authorities felt it appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator.
Tou Thao, who was one of the officers involved in the incident, also had six complaints filed with internal affairs, CNN reported.
One of the complaints was still open, according to a public summary released on Thursday.
The other two officers, Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng, did not have any complaints filed against them, the outlet confirmed.
Chauvin has been involved in other use-of-force incidents in the past.
The cop was one of six officers who fired their weapons in the 2006 death of Wayne Reyes, whom police said pointed a sawed-off shotgun at officers after stabbing two people.
He also wounded a man two years later in a struggle after Chauvin and his partner responded to a reported domestic assault.
The Pioneer Press recounted the incident in a 2008 article.
Ira Toles ran from the officers as soon as they got inside, but they would catch up to him, according to cops.
Toles grabbed at one of the officer’s weapons, and Chauvin fired at Toles and struck him in the stomach, according to the newspaper.
Chauvin was a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department.
