Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin Charged With George Floyd's Killing Released on Bond

By Mary Anne R. Oct 09 2020, 06:56 AM EDT

Former Police Officer Charged With George Floyd’s Killing Released on Bond — Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer charged for George Floyd’s death, was released from jail after posting bond. Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer charged for George Floyd's death, was released from jail after posting bond.

This prompted the Minnesota's governor to tap the National Gard to help keep the peace in event of protests.

Chauvin was released from the state's facility in Oak Park Heights after he posted a $1 million bond, according to court documents.

Hennepin County jail records said he was released around 11:30 a.m.

George Floyd's Death

Floyd died on May 15 after Chauvin pressed his knee against the Black man's neck for several minutes.

This continued even after Floyd said he could not breathe.

Officers who were involved in Floyd's death claimed that the Black man died of drug overdose rath then from asphyxiation.

Floyd's family disputes the drug accusations brought up against him in court on Friday.

The defense team claimed he had swallowed fentanyl, which is a deadly synthetic opioid, before his arrest.

Floyd's family lawyer, Ben Crump, alleged the defense team of blaming the death.

A legal move that "flies in the face of what we see with our own eyes on the video," Crump said.

He was referring to viral recorded footage of an officer with this knee on Floyd's neck before his death.

"The only overdose that killed George Floyd was an overdose of excessive force and racism by the Minneapolis Police Department. George was lucid, cooperative, obeyed commands and had situational awareness when he died," Crump was quoted.

Crump added on his statement that the world witnessed his asphyxiation on video.

He further said that now the defense council is asking the public to disbelieve their own eyes.

"Multiple autopsies determined that he died of asphyxiation because of the officers kneeling on his back and neck," Crump concluded.

Court Proceedings

Lawyers of former officers involved in the case pled for separate trials as one might offer defenses and evidences that could affect another, according to earlier reports.

The accused showed in the court for a request hold a joint trial.

Judge Peter granted a defense request to remove a local prosecutor from the case.

Chauvin was in custody when he appeared in person for the first time.

He attended previous hearing through videoconference.

Chauvin did not make eye contact with any of the defendants as he arrived.

Cahill earlier said that four Hennepin County prosecutors including County Attorney Mike Freeman are out of the trial proceedings as they met with the county medical examiner to discuss autopsy results.

However, Cahill said they could still be called as witnesses.