Minneapolis - Bad Sporters https://www.badsporters.com News Blogging About Athletes Being Caught Up Sat, 13 Jun 2020 03:07:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 Minneapolis youth basketball coach charged with sexual assault of preteen boy https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/13/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-preteen-boy/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/13/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-preteen-boy/#respond Sat, 13 Jun 2020 03:07:38 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7281 A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court. Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The […]

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A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The alleged victim was a preteen when he was assaulted in October and again in February while spending the night at Hjermstad’s home, the charges say.

The charges note that Hjermstad was a teacher at Mastery School and a basketball coach at Hospitality House Youth Development.

Emily Peterson, executive director of Mastery School, had no comment other than to confirm that Hjermstad was no longer employed there. He had been listed on the website as a physical education and health teacher. The school serves grades K-6.

The executive director and program director of Hospitality House, a north Minneapolis outreach group that focuses on urban youth, could not be reached for comment.

Hjermstad did not return messages left at a number listed for him; he had no attorney listed. He was charged via summons, meaning he is not in custody.

According to the complaint: Brooklyn Center police received a report March 5 that a boy had spent the night a week earlier at Hjermstad’s home and was asked by Hjermstad to perform a sex act in exchange for money. The boy was reportedly sleeping in Hjermstad’s bed while Hjermstad slept on the floor. The boy’s brother slept in another room.

Hjermstad was planning to take the boys to a game the next day, the complaint says.

The boy told an investigator that after he was propositioned by Hjermstad he left to tell his brother, but Hjermstad ordered him to return to the bedroom or face being pulled out of the game the next day, the complaint says. It says the boy’s mother reported that her son had been offered money not to cooperate with police. The charges do not say who made the alleged offer.

The boy also said that he had spent the night at Hjermstad’s home in October and was lying in bed when Hjermstad’s genitals touched his foot. There was a third, undated incident in which the boy awoke to find Hjermstad lying on top of him, the charges say.

The boy told an investigator that the coach made boys shower whenever they were at his house if they wanted to play video games.

“The defendant was previously accused of sexual assault by a player he coached,” the charges say. “That case is being reinvestigated.”

Twitter: @ChaoStrib

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Minneapolis youth basketball coach charged with sexual assault https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/12/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault-2/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/12/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault-2/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2020 04:35:25 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7214 See more of the story A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court. Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and […]

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A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The alleged victim was a preteen when he was assaulted in October and again in February while spending the night at Hjermstad’s home, the charges say.

The charges note that Hjermstad was a teacher at Mastery School and a basketball coach at Hospitality House Youth Development.

Emily Peterson, executive directory of Mastery School, had no comment other than to confirm that Hjermstad was no longer employed there. He had been listed on the website as a physical education and health teacher. The school serves grades K-6.

The executive director and program director of Hospitality House, a north Minneapolis outreach group that focuses on urban youth, could not be reached for comment.

Hjermstad did not return messages left at a number listed for him; he had no attorney listed. He was charged via summons, meaning he is not in custody.

According to the complaint: Brooklyn Center police received a report March 5 that a boy had spent the night a week earlier at Hjermstad’s home and was asked by Hjermstad to perform a sex act in exchange for money. The boy was reportedly sleeping in Hjermstad’s bed while Hjermstad slept on the floor. The boy’s brother slept in another room.

Hjermstad was planning to take the boys to a game the next day, the complaint says.

The boy told an investigator that after he was propositioned by Hjermstad he left to tell his brother, but Hjermstad ordered him to return to the bedroom or face being pulled out of the game the next day, the complaint says. Its says the boy’s mother reported that her son had been offered money not to cooperate with police. The charges do not say who made the alleged offer.

The boy also said that he had spent the night at Hjermstad’s home in October and was lying in bed when Hjermstad’s genitals touched his foot. There was a third, undated incident in which the boy awoke to find Hjermstad lying on top of him, the charges say.

The boy told an investigator that the coach made boys shower whenever they were at his house if they wanted to play video games.

“The defendant was previously accused of sexual assault by a player he coached,” the charges say. “That case is being reinvestigated.”

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Minneapolis youth basketball coach charged with sexual assault https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/11/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/11/minneapolis-youth-basketball-coach-charged-with-sexual-assault/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:54:46 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7165 A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court. Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The […]

The post Minneapolis youth basketball coach charged with sexual assault first appeared on Bad Sporters.

]]>

A basketball coach who worked at a Minneapolis charter school and a youth organization sexually assaulted a child athlete in his care, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Aaron J. Hjermstad, 41, of Brooklyn Center, was charged with one count each of soliciting a child and second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The alleged victim was a preteen when he was assaulted in October and again in February while spending the night at Hjermstad’s home, the charges say.

The charges note that Hjermstad was a teacher at Mastery School and a basketball coach at Hospitality House Youth Development.

Emily Peterson, executive directory of Mastery School, had no comment other than to confirm that Hjermstad was no longer employed there. He had been listed on the website as a physical education and health teacher. The school serves grades K-6.

The executive director and program director of Hospitality House, a north Minneapolis outreach group that focuses on urban youth, could not be reached for comment.

Hjermstad did not return messages left at a number listed for him; he had no attorney listed. He was charged via summons, meaning he is not in custody.

According to the complaint: Brooklyn Center police received a report March 5 that a boy had spent the night a week earlier at Hjermstad’s home and was asked by Hjermstad to perform a sex act in exchange for money. The boy was reportedly sleeping in Hjermstad’s bed while Hjermstad slept on the floor. The boy’s brother slept in another room.

Hjermstad was planning to take the boys to a game the next day, the complaint says.

The boy told an investigator that after he was propositioned by Hjermstad he left to tell his brother, but Hjermstad ordered him to return to the bedroom or face being pulled out of the game the next day, the complaint says. Its says the boy’s mother reported that her son had been offered money not to cooperate with police. The charges do not say who made the alleged offer.

The boy also said that he had spent the night at Hjermstad’s home in October and was lying in bed when Hjermstad’s genitals touched his foot. There was a third, undated incident in which the boy awoke to find Hjermstad lying on top of him, the charges say.

The boy told an investigator that the coach made boys shower whenever they were at his house if they wanted to play video games.

“The defendant was previously accused of sexual assault by a player he coached,” the charges say. “That case is being reinvestigated.”

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Ex-NBA, Iowa State star Royce White leads peaceful protest in hometown of Minneapolis https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/31/ex-nba-iowa-state-star-royce-white-leads-peaceful-protest-in-hometown-of-minneapolis/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/31/ex-nba-iowa-state-star-royce-white-leads-peaceful-protest-in-hometown-of-minneapolis/#respond Sun, 31 May 2020 02:26:46 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=6804 Travis Hines and Tyler Davis, Des Moines Register Published 1:43 p.m. CT May 30, 2020 | Updated 2:04 p.m. CT May 30, 2020 CLOSE ‘You see a country that’s one fire and you lose sight of the fact that we tried a silent protest.’ NBA and Iowa State Star Royce White honors Colin Kaepernick as […]

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Travis Hines and Tyler Davis, Des Moines Register
Published 1:43 p.m. CT May 30, 2020 | Updated 2:04 p.m. CT May 30, 2020

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‘You see a country that’s one fire and you lose sight of the fact that we tried a silent protest.’ NBA and Iowa State Star Royce White honors Colin Kaepernick as he leads protest in Minneapolis

Des Moines Register

MINNEAPOLIS — Royce White saw his city in turmoil, and he responded by doing what he so often has — he lent his voice to a cause.

The former NBA player and Iowa State star was one of the organizers of a peaceful protest here Friday after a night of anger, frustration and destruction as protests of the death of George Floyd devolved in some places to significant property damage and looting.

“I’m so happy to see all these people here,” White said after the protest on the downtown Hennepin Avenue Bridge, “and for us to be able to hold this bridge down and really give you that feeling of Selma back in the ‘60s.”

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Former Iowa State Basketball player Royce White speaks as peaceful protestors take over the Hennepin Ave. Bridge Friday, May 29, 2020. Protests continued around the city following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody. (Photo: Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)

Floyd, who was black, died Monday after being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer driving his knee into the back of Floyd’s neck in an interaction that was videoed by bystanders.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other officers at the scene of the arrest, who, like Chauvin, were fired by the Minneapolis Police Department, have not been charged with any crimes, but Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Friday he anticipated they will be prosecuted, though he declined to speculate on potential charges.

Floyd’s death has sparked demonstrations across the country to protest police violence against the black community.

“It was unspeakable,” White said of the footage of Floyd’s death. “It’s just a heinous thing to see. Somebody to kneel on somebody’s neck, somebody to squeeze the life out of somebody in that way and that we can all watch it on camera and there still be a debate.

“That’s the part that you really have to look at and say, ‘What has this country come to? What is going on here?’ We know what it’s come to. Like I’ve said to these people out here today, we don’t have a social injustice problem. We have a corporate injustice problem. This country has become a tyrannical corporation.

“We have to rein that in. We have to regain some sovereignty as communities, start to police ourselves and really start to reshape what being an American is going to look like every day.”

White is a native of Minneapolis and starred at the city’s powerhouse high school basketball program, DeLaSalle, before finishing his prep career at suburban Hopkins High School. He attended the University of Minnesota as a freshman, but transferred to Iowa State after off-the-court incidents.

He starred in his lone season for the Cyclones, averaging 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game in 2011-12 to help lead Iowa State and second-year coach Fred Hoiberg to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.

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Hundreds of Protestors take over the Hennepin Ave. bridge Friday, May 29, 2020. Protests continued around the city following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody. (Photo: Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)

He was a first-round draft pick of the Houston Rockets, but never played for the team as he and the franchise battled over medical care protocol. By that time, White had gone public with his diagnosed anxiety disorder and had become a vocal mental health advocate.

He ultimately played in just three NBA games for the Sacramento Kings in 2013-14, but has continued to be a visible activist.

The protest he helped organize Friday was inspired by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, White said. Kaepernick famously kneeled during the national anthem before games to protest police brutality. He has not played in the NFL since 2016, and filed a grievance against the league alleging it was colluding to keep him from playing because of his protests.

“The whole goal of it was for us to come and kneel here on the bridge and have a moment of silence, a moment of protest that was peaceful,” White said, “because this protest was peaceful and it got tarnished in a lot of ways. It got sidetracked. Now you see a country that’s on fire and you lose sight of the fact that we tried to silent protest. You lose sight of the fact that silent protest is the way we’ve chosen for a long time and to no avail. We wanted to honor that today.

“Had they just listened to (Kaepernick), had they just listened to some of these voices that speak that truth, some of these things could be avoided.”

White also addressed the destruction and looting that has occurred in Minneapolis in relation to the protests.

“The looters are a response of a lack of justice,” White said. “Am I saying that’s the way to hone the political efforts and the political energy? No. Absolutely not. That wouldn’t be my vote, but at the end of the day, I don’t think they want the honed version, either.”

The White-led protest drew approximately 1,000 people who, after listening to remarks from religious and community leaders, marched through downtown and onto Interstate 35W.

“This is what we wanted to accomplish,” he said. “We wanted as many people as we could have out here. We had no clue this many people would show up. 

“We had a hunch if we dressed in all black in honor of the prophecy, so to speak, of Colin Kaepernick, that we would be powerful and symbolic. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin arrested, charged with murder in George Floyd https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/30/former-minneapolis-police-officer-derek-chauvin-arrested-charged-with-murder-in-george-floyd/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/30/former-minneapolis-police-officer-derek-chauvin-arrested-charged-with-murder-in-george-floyd/#respond Sat, 30 May 2020 03:56:44 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=6771 CLOSE United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald held a press conference along with police and FBI on their investigation into the death of George Floyd. Wochit MINNEAPOLIS – Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday, days after video circulated of him holding his knee to George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes […]

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United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald held a press conference along with police and FBI on their investigation into the death of George Floyd.

Wochit

MINNEAPOLIS – Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday, days after video circulated of him holding his knee to George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before Floyd died.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Chauvin was in custody and facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges. Subsequent charges are possible and charges for the other officers involved are anticipated, Freeman said.

Floyd’s family released a statement following the arrest, calling it a “welcome but overdue step on the road to justice.” The family said they wanted to see Chauvin charged with first-degree murder, as well as charges for the three other officers.

The arrest comes after Minneapolis residents awoke Friday to smoke billowing, fires burning and police lining their streets after another intense night of protests following Floyd’s death. Protests, some violent, also cropped up across the nation and are continuing in many cities Friday night.

More than 1,000 protesters shut down the Hennepin Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in a peaceful demonstration before heading for Interstate 35 on Friday night. The crowd marched to the bridge, where they met with a group led by Korey Dean Sr., P.J. Hill and former Iowa State basketball player Royce White. Dean asked the protesters to adhere to the day’s 8 p.m. curfew, which was put in place in response to days of “civil disturbance.” 

Stay up-to-date on the George Floyd story by signing up for USA TODAY’s Daily Briefing. Here are the latest developments:

  • Vice President Joe Biden said he spoke with Floyd’s family: “With our complacency and silence, we are complicit in perpetuating these cycles of violence.”
  • Floyd and Chauvin knew each other before the fatal encounter – they worked together at a bar, a city official and a bar owner said.
  • Floyd’s family has hired a medical examiner to conduct an independent autopsy, their attorney Ben Crump says. 
  • President Donald Trump criticized the city’s mayor, called protesters “thugs” and said “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Twitter later put a public interest notice on that tweet saying it violated rules about “glorifying violence.”
  • A CNN reporter and crew were arrested early Friday and later released. 
  • Protests and rallies took place  across the country overnight. In Louisville, Kentucky, a protest to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police in March, turned violent. Seven people were shot but are expected to recover.

Here’s what we know Friday:

More protests sweep the nation after Chauvin’s arrest 

Speaking to a large group of protesters on Friday, Minneapolis activist Kon Johnson, 45, called for calm — but said he understood why people were lashing out. “When you’ve held captive, you end up turning against each other,” he said, urging his fellow residents to exercise their voting rights to change the system he said oppresses people.

“What is it going to take to get people to listen? They say don’t incite violence, but no one is listening. What does it take to get them to listen? I mean, do we have to take this to the suburbs? To the capital?” he asked. “We can’t keep burning stuff down.”

Johnson added Chauvin’s arrest was just a first step. “I don’t want to burn down (expletive) either,” he said “I don’t. But guess what? It’s gonna happen if this fool does not get life in jail.”

Protests also persisted across the nation. The White House was put on lockdown after protests reached the nation’s capital, a spokesman confirmed to USA TODAY. Protests in New York, Atlanta and Chicago, to name a few places, also continued.

Minneapolis, Saint Paul face curfews

In response to “widespread civil unrest and unlawful activity” in the city over recent nights, Gov. Tim Walz, along with the mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, imposed a nighttime curfew on all public places in the Twin Cities, including streets and roads, alleys, highways, driveways, sidewalks, parks and more.

The curfew goes into effect Friday at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., then again at the same time Saturday night.

According to the emergency order, all law enforcement, fire and medical personnel, news media and other city and state officials were exempt from the curfew, along with people seeking care, fleeing dangerous circumstances or experiencing homelessness.

Violation of the order would result in a misdemeanor offense and is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to 90 days, according to the order.

The mayor of bordering Roseville announced on Twitter that, “out of an abundance of caution,” he had also imposed a curfew.

County attorney says Chauvin facing murder, manslaughter charges

Booking photo for Derek Michael Chauvin, 44. Chauvin is a former Minneapolis Police Department officer who was arrested in connection with the death of George Floyd. (Photo: Photo provided by Ramsey County Jail)

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said that his office was still reviewing evidence in Floyd’s death but they have “sufficient admissible evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt” on both a third-degree murder and a manslaughter charge.

Freeman said the charges were similar to those filed against former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in the shooting death of Justine Damond.

Asked why Chauvin was not arrested and held before charges filed, Freeman said, “This is by far the fastest we’ve ever charged a police officer.”

Freeman would not comment on what specific piece of evidence led to Chauvin’s arrest but said that his office had reviewed footage of Floyd’s death and the officer’s body-worn camera, spoken to witnesses and obtained a preliminary report from the medical examiner.

“We have now been able to put together the evidence that we need. Even as late as yesterday afternoon, we didn’t have all that we needed,” Freeman said.

Freeman said he would not speculate about the three other officers involved in Floyd’s arrest but said he anticipates charges.

Complaint provides new details from body cam footage

A criminal complaint that references body-worn cameras worn by the four now-former officers involved in the incident sheds some additional light on what happened on Memorial Day in the moments before and after Floyd’s death. 

The Hennepin County Attorney’s complaint said Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, including two minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was non-responsive.

The complaint lines up with what many nationwide have seen in video of the incident and adds context for what other officers at the scene were doing. One officer on the scene expressed worry for Floyd and asked Chauvin twice if Floyd should be rolled onto his side. 

After Floyd became unresponsive, an officer checked for a pulse and said he didn’t find one, according to the complaint. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for an additional two minutes after that, according to the complaint. The report adds the type of restraint Chauvin used “with a subject in a prone position is inherently dangerous.” 

Read more about the complaint here.

Family seeks first-degree murder charge

The family of George Floyd released a statement Friday calling for officials to revise the charges against Chauvin.

“We expected a first-degree murder charge. We want a first-degree murder charge. And we want to see the other officers arrested,” the statement said. “We call on authorities to revise the charges to reflect the true culpability of this officer.”

Activists echoed the call, saying that one arrest was not enough. At a press conference inside Minneapolis city hall, attended by former NBA player Stephen Jackson and actor Jamie Foxx, community members called for the arrest of all four officers involved in the incident.

“We are not satisfied with one officer,” said lawyer and minister Nekima Levy Armstrong. “All of them were complicit in his murder, and they all need to (be) held accountable, just as if it was four black men that killed somebody.”

Barr says federal investigation ‘proceeding quickly’

Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department is “proceeding quickly” with its investigation on Floyd’s death.

“The video images of the incident that ended with death of Mr. Floyd, while in custody of Minneapolis police officers, were harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing,” Barr said Friday.

The Justice Department has launched a parallel investigation on whether the officers committed civil rights violations. Barr said state officials will first make charging decisions before the Justice Department does.

– Kristine Phillips

Biden, Obama speak out 

Former Vice President Joe Biden, in a video address Friday, said he spoke with George Floyd’s family, saying, “It’s time for us to take a hard look at the uncomfortable truths. It’s time for us to face that deep open wound in this nation.”

Added Biden: “With our complacency and silence, we are complicit in perpetuating these cycles of violence.”

In a statement, former President Barack Obama said he, his friends and millions of other Americans share “anguish” after Floyd’s death.

While it’s natural to want the U.S. to return to “normal” amid the coronavirus, Obama said “normal” for many Americans is “being treated differently on account of race.”

“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal,’ ” he added. “If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.”

The protest: What one reporter saw during George Floyd protests — until he was temporarily blinded by pepper spray

Minnesota Gov. Walz: ‘It’s time for us to clean our streets’

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called on the public to end violent protests and looting that take away peaceful demonstrations honoring Floyd.

“As we put a presence in the street to restore order, it is to open that space to seek justice and heal after what happened,” Walz said at a news conference.

Walz addressed criticism about a lack of police presence overnight during the protests, saying that the local leadership needed to make specific requests as to the mission for state troopers and national guard members.

“You will not see that tonight,” Walz said. “There was no social control. … That is an abject failure that cannot happen.”

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“The chapter that has been written this week is one of our darkest chapters,” Walz said.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison echoed the governor’s message of addressing structural problems within policing in the state, adding that prosecution of the officers involved in Floyd’s arrest alone will not lead to justice.

“We’re not just going to fix the windows and sweep up the glass,” he said. “We’re going to fix a broken society.”

Floyd, Chauvin worked security at same bar

Floyd andChauvin knew each other before the fatal encounter during which Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd said he could not breathe, a city official and a bar owner said.

Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins told CNN and MSNBC that Floyd and Chauvin were long-time co-workers who worked security at the same bar, El Nuevo Rodeo.

Speaking with KSTP-TV, former bar owner Maya Santamaria said Chauvin worked off-duty security outside for 17 years while Floyd worked inside the bar. Santamaria said she sold the club a few months ago.

More on Derek Chauvin: Minneapolis police at center of George Floyd’s death had a history of complaints

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Floyd’s family arranges independent autopsy

George Floyd’s family has hired a medical examiner to conduct an independent autopsy, the family’s lawyer said Friday.

“We’ve just spoken recently with the district attorney,” attorney Ben Crump said in a press conference. “We’re going to take custody back of his body, and we’re bringing in Dr. Michael Baden to perform an independent autopsy.”

Crump said the family suspected city authorities of trying to establish a false narrative through the autopsy report. The preliminary autopsy report found “no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation,” according to the criminal complaint released Friday. 

“The family does not trust anything coming from the Minneapolis Police Department. How can they?” Crump said.

Baden is a forensic pathologist known for investigation high-profile deaths, including that of Jeffrey Epstein. Baden did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also Friday, the families of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Floyd issued a joint call for a congressional hearing and a national task force aimed at ending racial violence and increasing police accountability in the U.S.

“While we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support, it’s important that now – more than ever – we use our voices to enact change, demand accountability within our justice system and keep the legacies of Breonna, Ahmaud and George alive,” the families said in a joint statement.

George Floyd video adds to trauma: ‘When is the last time you saw a white person killed online?’

More news on the police death of George Floyd

Minnesota State Police and National Guard keep watch after a night of riots and looting in Minneapolis. Protests continued across the nation Friday night. (Photo: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY NETWORK)

CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and crew released after being arrested

Gov. Tim Walz apologized Friday for the arrest of a CNN reporter and crew. “I take full responsibility. There is absolutely no reason something like this should happen,” he said.

Correspondent Omar Jimenez was reporting live on “New Day” when police advanced toward him and his crew. Jimenez told police that he was a reporter, showed his credentials and asked where they would like him and the crew to stand so they could continue reporting and be out of their way.

“Put us back where you want us. We are getting out of your way,” Jimenez said. “Wherever you want us, we will go. We were just getting out of your way when you were advancing through the intersection.”

A response by police could not be heard as Jimenez explained the scene. An officer then told Jimenez he was under arrest. Jimenez asked why he was under arrest, but was taken from the scene. The rest of the crew was then arrested as the live shot continued with the camera on the ground.

CNN said later Friday that Jimenez had been released and that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized for his arrest.

“There was a moment, minutes after it happened where things started to sink in a little bit,” Jimenez said on CNN after his release. “I was just as confused as you.”

“They eventually came back with our belongings … unclipped our handcuffs and that is when we were led out,” he said, adding, “There was no, ‘Sorry, this is a big misunderstanding.’ “

Protest erupted in Louisville with 7 shot overnight

At least seven people were shot during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, over the police shooting of Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her apartment while sleeping.

Gunfire erupted after hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding justice for Taylor – one of several deaths of unarmed African Americans drawing national attention in recent weeks.

It began as a peaceful demonstration with several hundred people marching through downtown, chanting Taylor’s name and calling for the officers involved in her death to face charges. But as the sun set, tensions rose. Police in riot gear clashed with hundreds of protesters outside of Louisville Metro Hall, officers releasing clouds of tear gas and firing a barrage of rubber bullets at the crowd.

By the end of the evening, dozens of vehicles and buildings had sustained property damage. Crowds shook a police prisoner transport van, nearly toppling it. As of Friday afternoon, the police department said there were no leads in the case.

– Mandy McLaren, Darcy Costello, Cameron Teague Robinson, Bailey Loosemore and Sarah Ladd

Breonna Taylor shooting: What to know about the FBI, Louisville police investigations

Contributing: Associated Press; Jordan Culver, Joel Shannon, Erick Smith, Savannah Behrmann, Cara Richardson, Steve Kiggins and Heather Tucker, USA TODAY; Tyler J. Davis, Des Moines (Iowa) Register.

Read more about George Floyd, the shooting and other news:

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Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody after several days of violent protests surrounding the death of George Floyd.

USA TODAY

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Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer who put knee to George Floyd’s neck https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer-who-put-knee-to-george-floyds-neck/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer-who-put-knee-to-george-floyds-neck/#respond Thu, 28 May 2020 09:05:40 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=6664 A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations. “What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that … the officer […]

The post Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer who put knee to George Floyd’s neck first appeared on Bad Sporters.

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A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations.

“What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that … the officer who had his knee on the neck of George Floyd should be charged,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a news conference Wednesday.

Frey declined to say what the officer should be charged with, and said his knowledge is “limited to the video evidence that is there” about Floyd, a black man. He said he made his opinion known to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office would be in position to file state charges.

“George Floyd deserves justice. His family deserves justice. The black community deserves justice, and our city deserves justice,” Frey said.

No charges have been filed in the case.

The four police officers involved in the incident with Floyd were fired Tuesday, Minneapolis police said. That includes Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen on video restraining Floyd with his knee, Chauvin’s attorney Tom Kelly said.

Kelly said he wouldn’t yet release a statement on Chauvin’s behalf.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo declined to discuss Floyd’s death on Wednesday but said the actions of the former police officers “in no way reflect the values, and the vision and the culture” he wants to change in the police department.

Officers should be charged with murder, family says

Floyd worked security at Conga Latin Bistro in Minneapolis for five years, according to its owner, Jovanni Thunstrom.

The 46-year-old Houston native moved to Minneapolis for work and to drive trucks, his friend and former NBA player, Stephen Jackson said.

Members of Floyd’s family remembered him as a man who wouldn’t “hurt anybody.” The family wants the four officers charged with murder.

“They were supposed to be there to serve and to protect and I didn’t see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life. Not one of them tried to do anything to help him,” Tera Brown, Floyd’s cousin, told CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday.

Protesters return to streets after Floyd’s death

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday for a second day near a police precinct, calling for justice over Floyd’s death.

Arradondo, the police chief, urged people to be respectful while protesting and condemned any type of destructive behavior. Most people, he said, have been peacefully protesting but there have been a few incidents.

An attorney representing Floyd’s family, Benjamin Crump, said in a statement Wednesday that he and Floyd’s relatives are calling for peaceful protests and social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic,” the statement said. “We will demand and ultimately force lasting change by shining a light on treatment that is horrific and unacceptable and by winning justice.”

Crowds took the streets on Tuesday chanting “No justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe,” which were some of the last words Floyd uttered Monday in the bystander video.

“We’re here to let them know this can’t be tolerated, there will be severe consequences if they continue to kill us. This will not go on another day,” a protester told CNN affiliate WCCO.

Police used tear gas to disperse a crowd Tuesday after some protesters turned unruly, Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told CNN.

‘I can’t breathe’

Floyd was arrested Monday evening after officers responded to a call about an alleged forgery in progress.

The officers were told the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car, Minneapolis police say, and found Floyd inside a car when they arrived.

Police said he “physically resisted” after he got out of the vehicle. Officers handcuffed Floyd, who police said “appeared to be suffering medical distress.”

Video from bystanders shows Floyd handcuffed and Chauvin with his knee pressed against the neck of the 46-year-old. Two officers handled the man on the ground while another stood nearby with his eyes on the bystanders as traffic passed.

“Please, I can’t breathe,” Floyd says. “… My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts.”

At one point the Floyd said, “Give me some water or something. Please. Please.”

Surveillance video obtained from a nearby restaurant showed the first point of contact police had with the man. An officer escorts Floyd handcuffed out of a car and Floyd sits on the sidewalk. Moments later, the officer and another escort Floyd away, still with his hands behind his back.

Floyd was declared dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterwards. A finding on the cause and manner of Floyd’s death is pending and it is being investigated by local, state and federal law enforcement, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

In a statement on Tuesday, police said additional information had “been made available” and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had joined the investigation.

The FBI Minneapolis Division has said the federal investigation into Floyd’s death will focus on whether the police officers “willfully deprived (Floyd) of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Officers’ attorneys had represented other Minnesota officers in high-profile deaths

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said Tuesday the four officers were cooperating in an investigation and urged “now is not the time to rush to (judgment)” while the officers’ actions are examined.

At least three of the fired officers are being represented by attorneys who previously represented other police officers involved in high-profile killings in Minnesota.

Chauvin’s attorney, Kelly, represented then-St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights in July 2016. A jury found Yanez not guilty of manslaughter; Castile’s family and his girlfriend reached settlements with various cities.

Attorneys Earl Gray and Thomas Plunkett also are representing officers involved in Monday’s incident — but they are not naming their clients.

Gray, like Kelly, had represented Yanez.

Plunkett was involved in the defense of Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor, who was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing Justine Ruszczyk while responding to her 911 call in July 2017.

Floyd’s death ‘it’s like déjà vu’

Monday’s incident is forcing Gwen Carr to relive the death of her son Eric Garner, who also uttered the words “I can’t breathe” while in a New York officer’s chokehold.

“It’s hard enough we’re coming up on the anniversary of my son’s death, and now to hear about this young man, it’s like déjà vu,” Carr told CNN. “It’s just like the murder of my son all over again. He was basically the same age as Eric.”

The officer who choked Garner in 2014 never faced charges. He was fired in 2019 after being found guilty in a disciplinary trial of using a chokehold on Garner and later sued the city over his termination.

NBA superstar LeBron James, Cleveland Browns player Odell Beckham Jr. and other athletes have voiced their outrage over Floyd’s death.

By Omar Jimenez, Nicole Chavez, and Jason Hanna, CNN

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Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer/#respond Thu, 28 May 2020 01:58:04 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=6646 By Omar Jimenez, Nicole Chavez and Jason Hanna, CNN (CNN) — A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations. “What I can say with […]

The post Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer first appeared on Bad Sporters.

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By Omar Jimenez, Nicole Chavez and Jason Hanna, CNN

(CNN) — A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations.

“What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that … the officer who had his knee on the neck of George Floyd should be charged,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a news conference Wednesday.

Frey declined to say what the officer should be charged with, and said his knowledge is “limited to the video evidence that is there” about Floyd, a black man. He said he made his opinion known to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office would be in position to file state charges.

“George Floyd deserves justice. His family deserves justice. The black community deserves justice, and our city deserves justice,” Frey said.

No charges have been filed in the case.

The four police officers involved in the incident with Floyd were fired Tuesday, Minneapolis police said. That includes Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen on video restraining Floyd with his knee, Chauvin’s attorney Tom Kelly said.

Kelly said he wouldn’t yet release a statement on Chauvin’s behalf.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo declined to discuss Floyd’s death on Wednesday but said the actions of the former police officers “in no way reflect the values, and the vision and the culture” he wants to change in the police department.

Officers should be charged with murder, family says

Floyd worked security at Conga Latin Bistro in Minneapolis for five years, according to its owner, Jovanni Thunstrom.

The 46-year-old Houston native moved to Minneapolis for work and to drive trucks, his friend and former NBA player, Stephen Jackson said.

Members of Floyd’s family remembered him as a man who wouldn’t “hurt anybody.” The family wants the four officers charged with murder.

“They were supposed to be there to serve and to protect and I didn’t see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life. Not one of them tried to do anything to help him,” Tera Brown, Floyd’s cousin, told CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday.

Protesters return to streets after Floyd’s death

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday for a second day near a police precinct, calling for justice over Floyd’s death.

Arradondo, the police chief, urged people to be respectful while protesting and condemned any type of destructive behavior. Most people, he said, have been peacefully protesting but there have been a few incidents.

An attorney representing Floyd’s family, Benjamin Crump, said in a statement Wednesday that he and Floyd’s relatives are calling for peaceful protests and social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic,” the statement said. “We will demand and ultimately force lasting change by shining a light on treatment that is horrific and unacceptable and by winning justice.”

Crowds took the streets on Tuesday chanting “No justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe,” which were some of the last words Floyd uttered Monday in the bystander video.

“We’re here to let them know this can’t be tolerated, there will be severe consequences if they continue to kill us. This will not go on another day,” a protester told CNN affiliate WCCO.

Police used tear gas to disperse a crowd Tuesday after some protesters turned unruly, Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told CNN.

‘I can’t breathe’

Floyd was arrested Monday evening after officers responded to a call about an alleged forgery in progress.

The officers were told the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car, Minneapolis police say, and found Floyd inside a car when they arrived.

Police said he “physically resisted” after he got out of the vehicle. Officers handcuffed Floyd, who police said “appeared to be suffering medical distress.”

Video from bystanders shows Floyd handcuffed and Chauvin with his knee pressed against the neck of the 46-year-old. Two officers handled the man on the ground while another stood nearby with his eyes on the bystanders as traffic passed.

“Please, I can’t breathe,” Floyd says. “… My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts.”

At one point the Floyd said, “Give me some water or something. Please. Please.”

Surveillance video obtained from a nearby restaurant showed the first point of contact police had with the man. An officer escorts Floyd handcuffed out of a car and Floyd sits on the sidewalk. Moments later, the officer and another escort Floyd away, still with his hands behind his back.

Floyd was declared dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterwards. A finding on the cause and manner of Floyd’s death is pending and it is being investigated by local, state and federal law enforcement, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

In a statement on Tuesday, police said additional information had “been made available” and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had joined the investigation.

The FBI Minneapolis Division has said the federal investigation into Floyd’s death will focus on whether the police officers “willfully deprived (Floyd) of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Officers’ attorneys had represented other Minnesota officers in high-profile deaths

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said Tuesday the four officers were cooperating in an investigation and urged “now is not the time to rush to (judgment)” while the officers’ actions are examined.

At least three of the fired officers are being represented by attorneys who previously represented other police officers involved in high-profile killings in Minnesota.

Chauvin’s attorney, Kelly, represented then-St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights in July 2016. A jury found Yanez not guilty of manslaughter; Castile’s family and his girlfriend reached settlements with various cities.

Attorneys Earl Gray and Thomas Plunkett also are representing officers involved in Monday’s incident — but they are not naming their clients.

Gray, like Kelly, had represented Yanez.

Plunkett was involved in the defense of Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor, who was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing Justine Ruszczyk while responding to her 911 call in July 2017.

Floyd’s death ‘it’s like déjà vu’

Monday’s incident is forcing Gwen Carr to relive the death of her son Eric Garner, who also uttered the words “I can’t breathe” while in a New York officer’s chokehold.

“It’s hard enough we’re coming up on the anniversary of my son’s death, and now to hear about this young man, it’s like déjà vu,” Carr told CNN. “It’s just like the murder of my son all over again. He was basically the same age as Eric.”

The officer who choked Garner in 2014 never faced charges. He was fired in 2019 after being found guilty in a disciplinary trial of using a chokehold on Garner and later sued the city over his termination.

NBA superstar LeBron James, Cleveland Browns player Odell Beckham Jr. and other athletes have voiced their outrage over Floyd’s death.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer who put knee to George Floyd https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer-who-put-knee-to-george-floyd/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/28/minneapolis-mayor-calls-for-charges-against-officer-who-put-knee-to-george-floyd/#respond Thu, 28 May 2020 01:51:03 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=6643 (CNN) — A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations. “What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that … […]

The post Minneapolis mayor calls for charges against officer who put knee to George Floyd first appeared on Bad Sporters.

]]>

(CNN) — A Minnesota mayor on Wednesday is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations.

“What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that … the officer who had his knee on the neck of George Floyd should be charged,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a news conference Wednesday.

Frey declined to say what the officer should be charged with, and said his knowledge is “limited to the video evidence that is there” about Floyd, a black man. He said he made his opinion known to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office would be in position to file state charges.

“George Floyd deserves justice. His family deserves justice. The black community deserves justice, and our city deserves justice,” Frey said.

No charges have been filed in the case.

The four police officers involved in the incident with Floyd were fired Tuesday, Minneapolis police said. That includes Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen on video restraining Floyd with his knee, Chauvin’s attorney Tom Kelly said.

Kelly said he wouldn’t yet release a statement on Chauvin’s behalf.

Officers should be charged with murder, family says

Floyd worked security at Conga Latin Bistro in Minneapolis for five years, according to its owner, Jovanni Thunstrom.

The 46-year-old Houston native moved to Minneapolis for work and to drive trucks, his friend and former NBA player, Stephen Jackson said.

Members of Floyd’s family remembered him as a man who wouldn’t “hurt anybody.” The family wants the four officers charged with murder.

“They were supposed to be there to serve and to protect and I didn’t see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life. Not one of them tried to do anything to help him,” Tera Brown, Floyd’s cousin, told CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday.

Protesters return to streets after Floyd’s death

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday for a second day near a police precinct, calling for justice over Floyd’s death.

An attorney representing Floyd’s family, Benjamin Crump, said in a statement Wednesday that he and Floyd’s relatives are calling for peaceful protests and social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic,” the statement said. “We will demand and ultimately force lasting change by shining a light on treatment that is horrific and unacceptable and by winning justice.”

Crowds took the streets on Tuesday chanting “No justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe,” which were some of the last words Floyd uttered Monday in the bystander video.

“We’re here to let them know this can’t be tolerated, there will be severe consequences if they continue to kill us. This will not go on another day,” a protester told CNN affiliate WCCO.

Police used tear gas to disperse a crowd Tuesday after some protesters turned unruly, Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told CNN.

‘I can’t breathe’

Floyd was arrested Monday evening after officers responded to a call about an alleged forgery in progress.

The officers were told the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car, Minneapolis police say, and found Floyd inside a car when they arrived.

Police said he “physically resisted” after he got out of the vehicle. Officers handcuffed Floyd, who police said “appeared to be suffering medical distress.”

Video from bystanders shows Floyd handcuffed and Chauvin with his knee pressed against the neck of the 46-year-old. Two officers handled the man on the ground while another stood nearby with his eyes on the bystanders as traffic passed.

“Please, I can’t breathe,” Floyd says. “… My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts.”

At one point the Floyd said, “Give me some water or something. Please. Please.”

Surveillance video obtained from a nearby restaurant showed the first point of contact police had with the man. An officer escorts Floyd handcuffed out of a car and Floyd sits on the sidewalk. Moments later, the officer and another escort Floyd away, still with his hands behind his back.

Floyd was declared dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterwards. A finding on the cause and manner of Floyd’s death is pending and it is being investigated by local, state and federal law enforcement, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

In a statement on Tuesday, police said additional information had “been made available” and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had joined the investigation.

The FBI Minneapolis Division has said the federal investigation into Floyd’s death will focus on whether the police officers “willfully deprived (Floyd) of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Officers’ attorneys had represented other Minnesota officers in high-profile deaths

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said Tuesday the four officers were cooperating in an investigation and urged “now is not the time to rush to (judgment)” while the officers’ actions are examined.

At least three of the fired officers are being represented by attorneys who previously represented other police officers involved in high-profile killings in Minnesota.

Chauvin’s attorney, Kelly, represented then-St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights in July 2016. A jury found Yanez not guilty of manslaughter; Castile’s family and his girlfriend reached settlements with various cities.

Attorneys Earl Gray and Thomas Plunkett also are representing officers involved in Monday’s incident — but they are not naming their clients.

Gray, like Kelly, had represented Yanez.

Plunkett was involved in the defense of Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor, who was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing Justine Ruszczyk while responding to her 911 call in July 2017.

Floyd’s death ‘it’s like déjà vu’

Monday’s incident is forcing Gwen Carr to relive the death of her son Eric Garner, who also uttered the words “I can’t breathe” while in a New York officer’s chokehold.

“It’s hard enough we’re coming up on the anniversary of my son’s death, and now to hear about this young man, it’s like déjà vu,” Carr told CNN. “It’s just like the murder of my son all over again. He was basically the same age as Eric.”

The officer who choked Garner in 2014 never faced charges. He was fired in 2019 after being found guilty in a disciplinary trial of using a chokehold on Garner and later sued the city over his termination.

NBA superstar LeBron James, Cleveland Browns player Odell Beckham Jr. and other athletes have voiced their outrage over Floyd’s death.

CNN’s Christina Maxouris, Melissa Alonso, Josh Campbell, Mirna Alsharif and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report.

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Minneapolis police: Fugitive arrested in Monique Baugh slaying https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/07/minneapolis-police-fugitive-arrested-in-monique-baugh-slaying/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/05/07/minneapolis-police-fugitive-arrested-in-monique-baugh-slaying/#respond Thu, 07 May 2020 17:49:44 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=5919 Authorities have arrested a suspect who had been on the run since January after being charged in a Minneapolis murder-for-hire plot that left resulting in the death of a mother and real estate agent, a department spokesman confirmed on Thursday. Five months after Monique Baugh was killed, authorities arrested Berry Davis, who had been a […]

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Authorities have arrested a suspect who had been on the run since January after being charged in a Minneapolis murder-for-hire plot that left resulting in the death of a mother and real estate agent, a department spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

Five months after Monique Baugh was killed, authorities arrested Berry Davis, who had been a fugitive for nearly five months after court records show he slipped out of a St. Louis Park hotel as police were closing in last January. A police spokesman said that Davis was arrested in Illinois, but the circumstances of the arrest weren’t immediately known.

He and another alleged co-conspirator, Cedric Berry, were previously indicted on first-degree murder charges for their role in Baugh’s kidnapping and killing on New Year’s Eve.

Online records for the Cook County (Ill.) jail show that a man under the name Berry Davis was booked on May 1 and is being held without bond.

Baugh’s slaying gained widespread publicity for its brutality and numerous twists and turns outlined in court filings.

At one point, the FBI got involved in the investigation, loaning a member of its Cellular Analysis and Survey Team to help investigators sift through cellphone records for clues.

Prosecutors allege that Baugh was kidnapped from a home in Maple Grove and dragged into a waiting UHaul truck, possibly tortured, and her body was later dumped into a north Minneapolis alley.

Search warrant affidavits and criminal complaints filed in the case paint a complicated plot revolving around a dispute over a record deal between Baugh’s boyfriend and a fellow rapper. Police have said that at least eight people, in varying roles, were involved, coordinating their actions by cellphone and walkie talkie.

The suspected triggerman is in federal custody on an unrelated charge, but so far no public charges have been filed against him in the Baugh case.

Police believe that Baugh’s boyfriend, Jon Mitchell-Momoh, was the intended victim of the alleged plot. Less than an hour before Baugh’s death, a masked gunman, believed to be Berry, walked into the couple’s North Side home and shot Mitchell-Momoh, while the couple’s young children were nearby, court records show.

Mitchell-Momoh, who survived the shooting, told detectives he believed that he was targeted either because he had been flaunting “a lot of money” on his social media accounts or that people suspected him of cooperating with police, according to court filings. Investigators learned that Mitchell-Momoh had a falling out with a former friend over a record deal signing and that man may have ordered the hit on Mitchell-Momoh’s life, the warrant said.

The former friend-turned-rival, a rapper signed to a recording label in Chicago who is only identified by his initials in court filings, has not been publicly charged.

His status was not known Thursday.

Prosecutors previously charged Shante Davis, of Minneapolis, with being an accomplice after the fact. Cellphone records and video surveillance placed Davis — the wife of Cedric Berry, and sister of Berry “Big” Davis — with the two suspects when they picked up a rental truck the day before Baugh’s slaying.

Court records show that all three had been under court-authorized surveillance by members of a local drug task force in the weeks before the killing.

Another alleged player in the plot is Elsa Segura, a former county probation officer, who police believe helped lure Baugh to a phony home showing in Maple Grove, where she was kidnapped.

Segura remains in jail on $1 million bail, while Shante Davis has been transferred to another facility, jail records show. Cedric Berry is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, with his next court appearance set for Aug. 31. He has pleaded not guilty.

 

 

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