Ex-officers concerned in Floyd’s demise to be arraigned on federal civil rights costs in July

Last week, a federal grand jury, along with colleague Derek Chauvin, indicted the former officials on alleged willful violations of Floyd’s rights. Chauvin has already been convicted of state murder and manslaughter and is awaiting conviction. It wasn’t immediately clear why he wasn’t part of Friday’s planning brief, but he hasn’t made a first appearance on the federal allegations.

Messages left with Chauvin’s attorney and a US attorney general were not immediately returned.

Floyd, 46, died after Chauvin pinned him to the floor with one knee by the neck, despite Floyd, who was handcuffed, repeatedly saying he couldn’t breathe. Kueng and Lane also helped hold Floyd back – prosecutors said Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back and Lane held Floyd’s legs. Thao restrained bystanders and prevented them from intervening during the 9 1/2 minute restraint.

The federal indictment alleges that Chauvin violated Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure and unreasonable violence by a police officer. It accuses Thao and Kueng of violating Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizures by failing to intervene to stop Chauvin as he knelt on Floyd’s neck. All four officers are charged with failing to provide medical care to Floyd.

Chauvin was also charged in a second indictment related to the use of force and neck brace by a 14-year-old boy in 2017.

Lane, Kueng and Thao are also charged with state charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. It is planned that they will be tried on these charges next March.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article stated that the trial for the three ex-officers was scheduled for August 2nd. However, according to a changed planning sequence, the start date of the process still has to be determined.