Ex-Minnesota Cop Charged In George Floyd's Death, Derek Chauvin, Released On $1M Bail

Former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, the police officer charged for the death of George Floyd, was released from the Oak Parks Heights prison on Wednesday morning after posting a $1 million bond. He had been at the maximum-security prison for more than four months when he was released.

Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter following the death of Floyd on May 25. He was the last of the four fired Minneapolis cops charged in the case to remain in prison pending the trial in March 2021. The three other officers, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao, were charged with aiding and abetting murder.

Chauvin posted his bond via the A-Affordable Bail Bonds in Brainerd, Minnesota. His bail had been set at $1.25 million with no restrictions but was later set at $1 million, provided that he would surrender his firearms, remain in Minnesota, not work in law enforcement, and not attempt to contact his victim’s family. The authorities released Chauvin on conditional bail.

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who also represents Floyd’s family, said the release of Chauvin on bail was “a painful reminder” that “we are still far from achieving justice for George.” “Although George Floyd was denied justice in life, we will not rest until he is afforded full justice in death,” he said.

Viral footage of Floyd’s fatal encounter with the four Minnesota cops in May shows the suspects pinning a handcuffed Black man to the ground outside a convenience store in the city after accusing him of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin then presses his knee to the back of the man’s neck for nearly eight minutes despite his repeated pleas of “I can’t breathe.”

The death of George Floyd led to global demonstrations and calls for police reform, spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement. Racial inequality and police brutality have also become key political issues in the run up to the Nov. 3 presidential elections in the country.

Currently, all four Minnesota cops charged for the death of Floyd are free and are scheduled to face trial together in March. However, a judge is considering trying them separately.