MN - George Floyd, 46, died in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #10 - Chauvin Trial Day 7

[Weki]

Lt. Mercil says he’s currently on medical leave. It’s been reported that a lot of officers have taken leave since this incident and the following riots. PTSD leave specifically. As a result, there are fewer officers now to deal with the increased crime rate. Not sure if officers are retaliating against the city/citizens or if these are legitimate claims.

@turaj what’s the perspective from locals on this? Legit or no?

 

[Katerz]

paramedics felt them enough of a threat they scooped Floyd

they know the area, they know the environment far better than we do

well yeah the cops just KILLED (many witness’ opinion) a man! I’d get out of there fairly quickly too. It wasn’t because it was a threat. JMO

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Omg! This unruly crowd angle is wearing thin! I just feel like the harder he presses this point the less credible he appears. I know it’s his job etc etc but geez!

It appears that Nelson is backing off the previous reference to the minors, senior citizen, cashier, and other as a MOB? And today calling them citizen observers... at least for this witness to give another model/scenario.

MOO I note the change in the wording today

Rewind transcript for exact words by Nelson from WaPo feed


Q....."that's what you would describe as a rapid very dynamic model, right
A. Yes sir
Q. it's not just focusing on one particular thing, it's assessing many many things that are happening within a context of an arrest, right?
A. yes, sir
Q. And some of those things could be the interactions that you are having with citizen observers"

ETA: He continues to call them citizen bystanders MULTIPLE TIMES after this this morning until this time of my ETA.

 

[Blondiexoxo]

The crowd weren’t threatening anyone. If they had stood and said nothing that would be used against the prosecution in court too- ‘you were not concerned enough to voice it to the officers at the time’. The ‘possible threat’ of a small gathering of 7 people should not stop you from administering first aid. After all, that is what the witnesses were pleading with DC to do, to help GF when he was clearly not breathing. Tao seemed to be in charge of ‘crowd’ control anyway, I don’t see what that has to do with why Chauvin didn’t stop restraining Floyd, that would have stopped the crowd from begging officers to take a look at GF.

 

[MsBetsy]

paramedics felt them enough of a threat they scooped Floyd

they know the area, they know the environment far better than we do

I don't think paramedics considered the crowd a threat at all. In fact the paramedic who had to tell Chauvin to get off Floyd testified that there was no reason why the officers could not have performed CPR. Chauvin should have listened to the bystanders instead of assuming a few teenagers, a firefighter, and the others pleading with them constituted a threat.

 

[Tom_Servo]

Nelson is doing a good job considering the hand he's been dealt. The drug angle might not be proven but he has to bring it up with the amounts in GF's system. The unruly crowd angle is subjective and probably not hitting many points with the jury but one he has to cover. My opinion of Chauvins guilt has only changed in that he's guilty of being reckless, manslaughter. Based on all the definitions posted here the state hasn't provided the evidence that raises the charge to the definition of murder. I wish Minnesota had a stiffer definition of murder but I don't see it in this case.

 

[Katerz]

good thing you’re not a juror - you shouldn’t dismiss any angle until you’ve paid attention to all the evidence- Holding on to your preconceived outcome betrays the entire process.
When closely following a trial, I make an effort to keep an open mind. Unless I want to argue one side or the other, then I’ll let my bias be known.
This case- my mind is open
I sure hope we do have open minded jurors

I am basing my opinion on the evidence provided. All signs point to it was murder. Chauvin should have removed his knee from Floyd’s neck once he stopped posing a threat. He wasn’t trying to kick them. He was only fighting because he was trying to find a position to breathe in. He sat down on the curb just fine before hand. He flipped out once they tried to put him in the back of the cop car, which is fairly small and he was quite big. I’m fairly small myself and I’ve had to sit in the back of a police car to be questioned about a crime and even I freaked out and I wasn’t under arrest. The cops should have rendered CPR. They did not, instead Chauvin decided to shove his weight even more into Floyd’s neck. Playing on George’s drug issue isn’t doing any good. People do drugs every day and do not deserve to be hog tied on the ground with someones knee shoved in their neck to the point where they cannot breathe and end up dying! In fact one of the witnesses testifying (I believe it was the police chief yesterday or Friday) said that cops can rely on the people around them for help: other officers on scene, calling for backup, or even help from BYSTANDERS. So there’s NO excuse as to why when Floyd lost consciousness that they did not allow GH to step in and render CPR! Period, end of story!

 

[Niner]

ou Raguse
@LouRaguse

Current witness, Sgt. Ker Yang from MPD, testified about the Critical Decision Making Model -- on which officers are trained to follow when dealing with people who are in crisis.
In cross-examination, Eric Nelson asks about training and other things not apparent to a citizen coming into play.

Lt. Johnny Mercil is now on the witness stand. He stated that he's currently on medical leave.



Well over 100 MPD officers took medical leave last year after the death of George Floyd and all that followed.



link: https://twitter.com/louraguse?s=21


Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
13m
#DerekChauvinTrial - Yang testified he recognized Chauvin's name from training but doesn't personally know him. He said the goal for someone in crisis is to assess if that person needs help.



link: https://twitter.com/cathyrusson

 

[Blondiexoxo]

Nelson seems to think that when you just nip to the store for a snack and instead end up witnessing a man’s death, you should just say nothing and go on about your day. Nothing to see here kids, move along. Most people who see someone pleading for their life want to stop and help, when officers are clearly neglecting to address his condition, you are of course going to become even more distressed by what you are seeing.

Defence are showing no respect or sympathy for those who happened to witness this horrifying act, they didn’t ask to be there just like GF didn’t. If Chauvin hadn’t turned up to that call GF would still be alive and the ‘crowd’ wouldn’t have been gathered, they’d have gone on about their business.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Nelson is doing a good job considering the hand he's been dealt. The drug angle might not be proven but he has to bring it up with the amounts in GF's system. The unruly crowd angle is subjective and probably not hitting many points with the jury but one he has to cover. My opinion of Chauvins guilt has only changed in that he's guilty of being reckless, manslaughter. Based on all the definitions posted here the state hasn't provided the evidence that raises the charge to the definition of murder. I wish Minnesota had a stiffer definition of murder but I don't see it in this case.

Which part of the next up charge do you not think was met?

609.195 MURDER IN THE THIRD DEGREE.
(a) Whoever, without intent to effect the death of any person, causes the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life, is guilty of murder in the third degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 25 years.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.205

 

[Linda7NJ]

I am basing my opinion on the evidence provided. All signs point to it was murder. Chauvin should have removed his knee from Floyd’s neck once he stopped posing a threat. He wasn’t trying to kick them. He was only fighting because he was trying to find a position to breathe in. He sat down on the curb just fine before hand. He flipped out once they tried to put him in the back of the cop car, which is fairly small and he was quite big. I’m fairly small myself and I’ve had to sit in the back of a police car to be questioned about a crime and even I freaked out and I wasn’t under arrest. The cops should have rendered CPR. They did not, instead Chauvin decided to shove his weight even more into Floyd’s neck. Playing on George’s drug issue isn’t doing any good. People do drugs every day and do not deserve to be hog tied on the ground with someones knee shoved in their neck to the point where they cannot breathe and end up dying! In fact one of the witnesses testifying (I believe it was the police chief yesterday or Friday) said that cops can rely on the people around them for help: other officers on scene, calling for backup, or even help from BYSTANDERS. So there’s NO excuse as to why when Floyd lost consciousness that they did not allow GH to step in and render CPR! Period, end of story!

floyd was fighting “too breath” or fighting because he simply didn’t want to be arrested the entire time he was conscious - long before any knee involvement

The police would have no idea the reason Floyd fought them the entire time until he fell unconscious

testimony from multiple witnesses thus far tgat sometimes when regaining consciousness suspect becomes even more combative

 

[Niner]

Lou Raguse
@LouRaguse
·
3m
Lt. Mercil was in charge of use of force training on May 25, 2020. Plus continuing education.

He was mentioned by name in opening statements by prosecutor Jerry Blackwell.

He's being questioned today by Steve Schleicher.

Schleicher is having Lt. Mercil drill down definitions of use of force.




Lt. Mercil states that officers should start with least amount of force necessary.





link: https://twitter.com/louraguse?s=21



Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
Police use of force expert on the stand. He testified officers want to use the least amount of force necessary.

Showing the use of force continuum used in police training.




In training manual it states an officer making an arrest may not subject the person to "any more restraint than is necessary..."






link: https://twitter.com/cathyrusson

 

[bluebird69]

ou Raguse
@LouRaguse



Lt. Johnny Mercil is now on the witness stand. He stated that he's currently on medical leave.

View attachment 291563

Well over 100 MPD officers took medical leave last year after the death of George Floyd and all that followed.



link: https://twitter.com/louraguse?s=21
If I remember correctly, it was stated yesterday that MPD has arond 700 officers so rathr a large proportion on medical leave then if these figures are correct JMO

 

[bluebird69]

If I remember correctly, it was stated yesterday that MPD has around 700 officers so rather a large proportion on medical leave then if these figures are correct JMO

 

[Tippy Lynn]

For anyone who is interested in DC's complaints:

Page

 

[Inthedetails]

I don't think paramedics considered the crowd a threat at all. In fact the paramedic who had to tell Chauvin to get off Floyd testified that there was no reason why the officers could not have performed CPR. Chauvin should have listened to the bystanders instead of assuming a few teenagers, a firefighter, and the others pleading with them constituted a threat.

Plus, "crowd control" is not a paramedic's job. Their sole purpose is rendering aid to the patient.

Officers, however, do know how to control bystanders. There was more than one officer at the scene, but not one rendered aid.

jmo

 

[Weki]

This is getting repetitive - I think the jury gets it. This wasn’t authorized and it wasn’t part of the training! I hope this is the last witness in this. We know state has use of force experts in addition to these LE witnesses. It’s gonna get tedious!

 

[MsBetsy]

floyd was fighting “too breath” or fighting because he simply didn’t want to be arrested the entire time he was conscious - long before any knee involvement

The police would have no idea the reason Floyd fought them the entire time until he fell unconscious

testimony from multiple witnesses thus far tgat sometimes when regaining consciousness suspect becomes even more combative

None of that justifies the officers using unnecessary and "unauthorized" use of force. We haven't heard one officer testify yet that his actions were 'not' excessive. Chauvin knew his actions could have caused serious bodily harm or death. He just didn't care.

 

[CrimeAway]

This is getting repetitive - I think the jury gets it. This wasn’t authorized and it wasn’t part of the training! I hope this is the last witness in this. We know state has use of force experts in addition to these LE witnesses. It’s gonna get tedious!

I thought it was just me being sleepy, but testimony has dragged so far this morning. Drinking coffee now...

 

[ACE422]

floyd was fighting “too breath” or fighting because he simply didn’t want to be arrested the entire time he was conscious - long before any knee involvement

The police would have no idea the reason Floyd fought them the entire time until he fell unconscious

testimony from multiple witnesses thus far tgat sometimes when regaining consciousness suspect becomes even more combative

Severe anxiety and difficulty breathing is indicative of a potential medical emergency. Perhaps they should have called for EMS at that point. Instead, they continued to push him into the vehicle which was causing escalation of the problems. Instead of calling EMS, they restrained him in a prone position. This alone can kill someone if they are are not rolled into the recovery position ASAP- even someone who is not already having difficulty breathing. They proceeded to place weight on his back and neck, further obstructing his ability to breathe. After he stopped talking and moving they continued this restraint. After he stopped breathing and no pulse was found- the restraint continued and no medical attention was provided by officers who were trained to do so.