Derek Chauvin, 3 Other Ex-Cops Indicted on Civil Rights Charges in George Floyd's Death

A federal grand jury has indicted Derek Chauvin and three other former Minneapolis police officers for civil rights charges over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd.

According to their three-count indictment, former cops Derek Chauvin, 45; J. Alexander Kueng, 27; Thomas Lane, 38; and Tou Thao, 35, willfully disregarded George Floyd's constitutional rights.

Chauvin, Kueng, and Thao allegedly violated Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable search, seizure, and excessive force, Washington Examiner reported. The indictment also stated that all four former police officers failed to provide Floyd with medical aid.

Thao and Kueng were just seen standing between bystanders while Derek Chauvin was pinning Floyd to the ground. It was recorded in a video shot by a bystander and local traffic camera around the area.

The indictment is separate from the Minneapolis case, wherein a jury convicted Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter charges last month. The three other officers are each facing aiding and abetting charges and will be tried this summer.

Derek Chauvin Trial

Derek Chauvin has filed for a new trial after the court convicted him of murdering George Floyd.

Chauvin's attorney, Eric Nelson, petitioned the court as he alleged that Chauvin's constitutional rights had been violated after presiding judge Peter Cahill declined to change the trial's venue.

In addition, Nelson claimed that the pretrial publicity had deprived his client of a fair trial, NPR reported.

Prosecutorial and jury misconduct and a verdict contrary to law were also among the errors that Nelson mentioned.

"The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings," Nelson said.

Nelson also blamed the jury, the court, and the prosecution for the alleged unfair treatment of Chauvin.

The 12 jurors were composed of four Black people, two people identified as multiracial, and six white people.

Derek Chauvin is now awaiting sentence, which is scheduled sometimes in June. The sentence for unintentional second-degree murder is usually 12.5 prison years.

However, prosecutors were calling for an additional penalty due to certain aggravating factors. It will be Cahill's decision if he imposes an "enhancement."

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Police Federation said they respected the jury's decision. The federation is a not-for-profit organization representing the more than 800 police officers in this city.

"We also want to reach out to the community and still express our deep remorse for their pain, as we feel it every day as well," the federation said as BBC News reported. The federation added that no one won in this case.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lauded the result of George Floyd's case. Kamala Harris urged lawmakers to pass the George Floyd bill seeking to reform policing practices in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Derek Chauvin is also facing another federal indictment for placing his knee on a 14-year-old boy's neck for 17 minutes, causing the minor to pass out in 2017.

Chauvin also allegedly violated the boy's right by detaining him without any justifiable reasons, USA Today reported.

George Floyd's Murder

George Floyd only bought cigarettes at a convenience store in South Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. A cashier had alleged that the $20 that Floyd used to pay for was a counterfeit. The shop assistant then called the police.

George Floyd was then wrestled to the ground and pinned him under their weight. Derek Chauvin then pressed his knee into the back of Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as the Black man pleaded for his life.

READ MORE: House Rejects GOP Bid to Censure Rep. Maxine Waters Over Derek Chauvin Trial Remarks

WATCH: Derek Chauvin, 3 Other Ex-Cops Indicted on US Civil Rights Charges in George Floyd Death - From WGN News