Ex-officer charged in George Floyd's death freed on $1M bond
Minneapolis: The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd posted bail Wednesday and was released from prison, leading Minnesota's governor to activate the National Guard to help keep the peace in the event of protests.
According to court documents, Derek Chauvin posted a 1 million bond and was released from the state's facility in Oak Park Heights, where he had been detained. Hennepin County jail records show he was released shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for several minutes as Floyd said he couldn't breathe.
Floyd's death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world. Chauvin and three other officers were fired. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter; Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Upon news of Chauvin's release, Gov. Tim Walz activated the National Guard to help local law enforcement. Walz said the Guard was mobilizing 100 soldiers and providing equipment and facilities out of an abundance of caution" in light of public safety concerns. Walz said 100 state troopers and 75 Department of Natural Resources conservation officers were also mobilized to help local authorities.
Floyd family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released a statement saying Chauvin's release is a painful reminder" that the family is far from getting justice.
"The system of due process worked for Chauvin and afforded him his freedom while he awaits trial. In contrast, George Floyd was denied due process, when his life was ended over a 20 bill. There was no charge, no arrest, no hearing, no bail. Just execution," the attorneys wrote.
Floyd's aunt, Angela Harrelson, told FOX-9 that she was still trying to process the news.
It's something that I'm not happy with. I'm not pleased with it. But I know I have to accept it because this is what the judge allowed to happen. ... I know our family is not happy with this decision," Harrelson said.
It was not immediately clear where Chauvin got the money to pay his bond. In Minnesota, someone who posts bond is required to pay 10%, in this case 100,000, to the bail bond company. Then, the company and the defendant work out an arrangement for collateral to back all or part of the rest of the bond amount, said Mike Brandt, a criminal defense attorney who is not connected to the case.
A message left with the company that posted the bond, Allegheny Casualty Company, was not immediately returned.
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which has a legal defense fund, did not provide any money for bail, a spokeswoman said. Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation, said his union was not involved.
The website GiveSendGo.com, which says it is a free Christian crowdfunding site, has a Derek Chauvin Bail Fund that says it was created by his family. According to the site, as of midday Wednesday that fund raised 4,198 of its 125,000 goal, with donations from more than 35 people. A posting on the site dated Sept. 12 said it took time to set up a fundraising effort due to the high-profile nature of the case.
Chauvin had the option of posting bail for 1.25 million without conditions or 1 million with conditions. Under the conditions of his release, he must attend all court appearances, cannot have any direct or indirect contact including social media contact with any members of Floyd's family, cannot work in law enforcement or security, and must not possess any firearms or ammunition.
Chauvin's attorney had no comment Wednesday.
Chauvin's wife, Kellie Chauvin, filed for divorce shortly after Floyd's death. The records in that case have since been sealed and Kellie Chauvin's divorce attorney didn't immediately reply to a message seeking comment.
In July, the Chauvins were charged with multiple felony counts of tax evasion for allegedly failing to report income from various jobs, including more than 95,000 from Derek Chauvin's off-duty security work. The criminal complaints in that case allege that from 2014 through 2019, the Chauvins underreported their joint income by 464,433 and owe the state 37,868 in unpaid taxes, interest and fees.
The tax evasion case also listed other assets, including the couple's second home in Florida and a 100,000 BMW.
The Chauvin home in the St. Paul suburb of Oakdale was sold on Aug. 28 for 279,000, which was 26,000 less than the price it was listed at a month after Floyd's death, according to online real estate records. It was not clear where Chauvin was staying after his release, but one of the conditions of his bail was that he not leave Minnesota without permission.
The other three officers charged in Floyd's death had previously posted bond amounts of USD 750,000 and have been free pending trial. Currently, all four men are scheduled to face trial together in March, but the judge is weighing a request to have them tried separately.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Beejadi beach: Fishing vessel stranded on shore rescued in prompt operation
Udupi (Karnataka), May 2: A fishing expedition turned into a harrowing ordeal as a vessel, setting sail from Malpe fishing port in Udupi, veered off course and became marooned on a beach 30 kilometres from its place of origin and a few nautical miles off the intended route.
The fishermen who were part of the rescue operation said, the incident unfolded when the vessel, manned by a crew of seven seasoned fishermen, embarked from Malpe port at the stroke of midnight on April 30. Tragically, the helmsman succumbed to exhaustion, inadvertently causing a critical navigational lapse that sent the boat adrift from its intended trajectory.
Initial reports indicated that fatigue gripped the entire crew shortly after their departure from Malpe. By the break of dawn on May 1, the vessel had unexpectedly run aground at Beejadi beach, approximately 30 kilometres north of its departure point, startling both locals and passersby.
ALSO READ: Malpe: 12-year-old boy rescued from drowning
Subsequent analysis showed that the owner of the vessel was a resident of Kodibengre who had partnered with six or seven other people. There was conjecture that bad weather, marked by strong gusts, had something to do with the ship's veering off course.
Udupi fishermen’s association members who were a part of the rescue team told PTI that, luckily for the fishermen, the sea was calm, that the vessel did not veer away into deeper sea and the engine was in good condition.
