The release comes with conditions prohibiting Derek Chauvin from working in law enforcement agencies and owning firearms.
The former Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd has bailed out and was released from prison on Wednesday.
According to court records, Derek Chauvin has placed $ 1 million on bail and the Department of Corrections has confirmed that he was no longer held at the Oak Park Heights state facility where he was detained. Records from Hennepin County Prison show he was released shortly before 11:30 a.m. (4:30 p.m. GMT).
A memorial to George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota [Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters]Floyd, a black man in handcuffs, died on May 25 after the white chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for a few minutes when Floyd said he could not breathe. Floyd’s death was captured in a widespread video that sparked protests around the world. Chauvin and three other officers were released.
Chauvin is charged with second degree murder, third degree murder, and manslaughter. Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao are accused of assisting and facilitating second-degree murder and manslaughter.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Chauvin got the money to pay off his loan. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which has a legal protection fund, has not provided money for bail, a spokeswoman said. A message left with the union representing Minneapolis police was not returned.
Former Minneapolis police officers, clockwise from top left, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng pose in a combination of booking photos [Minnesota Department of Corrections and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/Handout via Reuters]Chauvin was given the option to deposit $ 1.25 million unconditionally or $ 1 million unconditionally. Under the terms of his release, he must attend all court appearances, have no direct or indirect contact – including social media – with members of Floyd’s family, work in law enforcement or security agencies, and hand in firearms.
The other three officers previously had bail for $ 750,000 and were free until the trial. Currently, all four men are slated to be tried together in March, but the judge is weighing a request to try them separately.
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