Expert Testifies Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Against George Floyd Was Excessive

During the ongoing trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Jody Stiger testified that Chauvin's use of force against George Floyd was excessive and unnecessary after Floyd was handcuffed. Chauvin, 45, pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for about nine minutes on May 25, 2020, a scene that sparked global protests against police brutality. Stiger stated that Floyd posed no immediate threat and was not actively resisting when Chauvin used deadly force, which he testified could have caused positional asphyxia and death.

Key Takeaways:

• Sergeant Jody Stiger testified that Derek Chauvin's use of force against George Floyd was excessive and unnecessary after Floyd was handcuffed.
• Stiger stated that Floyd posed no immediate threat and was not actively resisting when Chauvin used deadly force, which could have caused positional asphyxia and death.
• Chauvin's defense argued that he followed his training and that the main cause of Floyd's death was a drug overdose.
• Stiger testified that Chauvin squeezed Floyd's hand to get him to comply with the officer's orders while he was handcuffed.
• Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators, including Senior Special Agent James Reyerson, also testified in the trial.
• Reyerson stated that six months after the incident, Chauvin's lawyers re-examined the police car and found what was later determined to be pills that had Floyd's DNA on them.

Statistics:

• May 25, 2020: The date when George Floyd was arrested and Chauvin used deadly force against him.
• 9 minutes: The length of time Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck.
• 45: Chauvin's age.
• 46: Floyd's age when he died.
• 19 years: The amount of time Chauvin had been on the police force before the incident.

Sources:

• "Ex-policeman Derek Chauvin 'had no need to kneel on George Floyd once he was handcuffed'" by By, William Walker, no publication date provided.
• "Trial of Derek Chauvin" by various news sources, no dates provided.