MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The defense team of dismissed Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane, charged with the death of George Floyd, has filed a motion to dismiss the charges.
Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, argues that there is no probable cause for the charges and that Lane “did not intentionally assist, advise, hire, or conspire with (Derek) Chauvin or get Chauvin to commit a second-degree murder.” Lane is accused of aiding and abetting second degree murders and homicides.
Gray says Lane did not know that an assault was taking place and that he did not intend that his actions, holding Floyd’s legs and feet down, would further a crime.
The defense, as part of the evidence supporting the dismissal of the charges, entered transcripts from two cameras used by the officers’ corps, as well as other evidence. The footage has not been published.
READ THE TRANSCRIPTS AND MORE: State against Thomas Kiernan Lane
In the transcripts, George Floyd repeatedly tells officers that he is claustrophobic and does not want to be left alone in the squad’s vehicle. He also says he had COVID-19. As in the video posted on social media, the transcripts show passersby yelling at officers to let George Floyd in. It also shows that Lane asked him if Floyd should be rolled sideways. Chauvin said no.
The transcripts detail when officers can’t find Floyd’s pulse:
Speaker 13: He is not responding at this time, brother.
Speaker 14: Do you have a pulse?
Speaker 13: No, brother. Look at him, he doesn’t respond right now, brother. Brother, are you serious?
Lane: Do you have one?
Speaker 14: Let me see a pulse.
Kueng: I couldn’t find one.
Speaker 14: Are you breathing now? Check his pulse. Check her pulse. Check his pulse. [Inaudible] Check her pulse. (Crosstalk) Check your pulse, brother.
An interview with Lane was also posted on June 10, and Lane described her side of the story during Floyd’s arrest. While holding Floyd down, Lane said he could see Floyd breathing, even after he stopped talking and screaming. But at one point, Lane said he noticed that Floyd was not moving, so he asked Kueng to check Floyd’s pulse. According to the criminal complaint, the agents could not find the pulse at that time.
In the interview, Lane says he left with the ambulance, which downed the block due to crowds that had gathered in the area. Still, no pulse could be found for Floyd. Lane said he helped medical teams until it was no longer needed, so he left the ambulance.
(credit: Hennepin County)
The defense also released images of the two fake $ 20 bills found in the vehicle Floyd was sitting in when police arrived.
Officers handcuffed Floyd, 46, and then ended up holding him in the street next to a police car, where Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin has been charged with second and third degree manslaughter and third degree involuntary manslaughter. The other officers, including Lane, have been accused of aiding and abetting both second-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter.
Floyd’s death in police custody sparked civil unrest across the country and calls for police reform.
This is a developing story, so check back for more information.
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