May 26, 2019 – In Breaking News – The Hill
The FBI will lead an investigation into the death of an unarmed black man after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him down by putting his knee on the suspect’s neck.
A video from a bystander shows a white officer pressing the man’s face and neck onto the pavement near a police car on Monday evening.
The man can be heard groaning and saying “I can’t breathe” in the video, CBS News reported.
According to CBS Minnesota, an attorney for the family of the deceased suspect identified him as George Floyd.
(Demonstrators clashed with police in Minneapolis following the death of a black man, George Floyd, pinned to the ground by an officer. Four officers involved in the incident have been fired, but the victim’s family is demanding murder charges. Courtesy of TODAY and YouTube. Posted on May 27, 2020.)
The officer involved in the incident has not been named.
Police said in a statement that officers were responding to a “forgery in progress.”
“Officers were advised that the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence,” the statement added.
Two officers reportedly arrived and found the suspect, who appeared to be in his 40s, inside a vehicle. He was ordered to step away from his car.
“After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance,” according to the police statement.
On behalf of the members of @MjrCitiesChiefs, we strongly condemn the actions that led to the death of #GeorgeFloyd and stand with Chief Arradondo and good police officers throughout our nation.
We pray for the Floyd family and for community peace. https://t.co/NwkOgPMG4w
— Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) May 27, 2020
The man was taken to a hospital where he died a short while later, the statement said, adding that there were no weapons used in the incident and that police body cameras were activated.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced Tuesday at a press conference that the FBI would lead the investigation over this incident, examining the case for potential civil rights violations, CBS reported.
Arradondo also said two of the officers have been “relieved of duty status” but would still receive pay.
Video of the incident captured and uploaded to social media by Darnella Frazier shows the man remained pinned to the ground for more seven minutes and appeared to lose consciousness about five minutes into the video.
Several bystanders were also present and can be heard talking throughout the video.
Continue reading… FBI investigating death of suspect in video after Minneapolis police officer put knee on neck
(Police clashed with protesters as outrage grows over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was heard saying “I can’t breathe” as an officer pinned him to the ground with his knee to Floyd’s neck. The Minneapolis mayor called for the arresting officer to face charges. Courtesy of NBC News and YouTube. Posted on May 27, 2020.)
Chief Jorge Colina speaks about the incident which occured in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/sttcnWpY2k
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) May 27, 2020
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