Ex-Officer Who Held Back Crowd During George Floyd’s Killing Is Convicted
Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao, in glasses, and his attorney Robert Paule in St. Paul, Minn., last year. Photo: David Joles/Zuma Press By Joe Barrett May 2, 2023 11:48 am ET Tou Thao, the ex-Minneapolis police officer who kept a group of onlookers at bay as three other officers knelt on a handcuffed George Floyd until he lay lifeless in the street, was convicted Tuesday of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. The verdict came after a bench trial in which Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill considered agreed-upon evidence from the two sides and is the final conviction in state and federal court of the four officers involved in the May 25, 2020, killing that led to a summer of unrest in Minnesota and across the U.S. In hi
Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao, in glasses, and his attorney Robert Paule in St. Paul, Minn., last year.
Photo: David Joles/Zuma Press
By
Tou Thao, the ex-Minneapolis police officer who kept a group of onlookers at bay as three other officers knelt on a handcuffed George Floyd until he lay lifeless in the street, was convicted Tuesday of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
The verdict came after a bench trial in which Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill considered agreed-upon evidence from the two sides and is the final conviction in state and federal court of the four officers involved in the May 25, 2020, killing that led to a summer of unrest in Minnesota and across the U.S.
In his ruling, Judge Cahill said Mr. Thao made a conscious decision to participate in Mr. Floyd’s death, even though he could see Mr. Floyd’s life “ebbing away as the restraint continued,” adding: “He held back the concerned bystanders, and even prevented an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter from rendering the medical aid Floyd so desperately needed.”
Derek Chauvin, the lead officer who knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck and back for more than nine minutes, was convicted on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder and was sentenced to 22½ years in prison. The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld Mr. Chauvin’s conviction last month. Thomas Lane, who controlled Mr. Floyd’s legs and twice asked about his well-being, and J. Alexander Kueng, who knelt on Mr. Floyd’s back, each pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and were sentenced to three years and 3½ years, respectively.
Mr. Chauvin pleaded guilty in federal court to violating Mr. Floyd’s civil rights and the other three were found guilty of similar charges.
Mr. Thao’s sentencing on the latest charge is set for Aug. 7.
“The conviction of Tou Thao is historic and the right outcome. It brings one more measure of accountability in the tragic death of George Floyd,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office led the prosecution in state court.
Mr. Thao’s attorney, Robert Paule, didn’t return a call seeking comment.
Mr. Lane and Mr. Kueng, both rookie officers at the time, responded to a convenience store where employees told them that Mr. Floyd had bought cigarettes with an allegedly counterfeit $20 bill, according to testimony at the trials. The officers testified that Mr. Floyd appeared intoxicated and resisted being placed into a squad car. When Mr. Chauvin arrived, he instructed the other officers to place Mr. Floyd on the pavement and began to restrain him in a prone position. Mr. Floyd at first told the officers that he couldn’t breathe, but slowly lost the ability to speak, stopped moving and eventually the officers couldn’t find a pulse.
They remained on top of Mr. Floyd until paramedics arrived and couldn’t revive him.
Write to Joe Barrett at [email protected]
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