George Floyd: Judge Sets Derek Chauvin’s Bail At $1.25 Million

The ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as the man begged for his life, had his bail set at $1.25 million during a Monday hearing.

Like his fellow officers who were arrested, Chauvin was offered a reduced bail of $1 million if he agrees to certain conditions, including that he not work in security or law enforcement, not have contact with Floyd’s family, not leave Minnesota and surrender all firearms and permits.

If he posts bail, his release would be supervised, Judge Jeannice Reding said.

Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, blue mask and handcuffs, Chauvin appeared via video link. He is being held at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights in Stillwater, outside Minneapolis.

Defence attorney Eric Nelson did not object to the bail amount and said he’d reserve any bail issues for future hearings. Following the proceeding, he left promptly and was not available for comment.

The high bail amount was the product of the high-profile nature of the alleged crimes and the ensuing unrest, prosecutor Matthew Frank said.

“The defendant placed his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for approximately nine minutes,” Frank said. “The death of Mr. Floyd has had a strong reaction in the community, to put it mildly.”

Three more officers jailed, charged
Chauvin was arrested last month and initially charged with third-degree murder and other crimes. Last week, prosecutors added a second-degree murder charge.

The other three officers involved in Floyd’s death — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

They are each being held on $1 million dollar bail and are scheduled to be in court June 29, according to inmate records. Their bails can be lowered to $750,000 with conditions.

Chauvin’s next scheduled court date is June 29 as well.