I've been contemplating this for a while this week and am ready to say it after reading the probable cause affidavit today. I know I won't be appreciated by many for my views here. After much thought, I think it is worth saying, anyway.
Justice is not well founded on mob rule any more than it is well founded on biased or bad police officers.
When we begin charging people because a bunch of other people are upset, we have lost our way. It is not justice.
I've cautioned from the beginning that wishing the officers in this case in prison or dead because of their past, or perceived actions in this case is just as bad as a police officer killing someone because of their past or perceived actions.
The "Probable" Cause affidavit is deeply troubling and points out that Mr. Floyd was already saying he couldn't breathe before he was even put in a squad car. They fought with him FOR OVER 5 MINUTES to get him in the car from the driver's side. He kept repeating he couldn't breath. They took him out of the squad car on the passenger's side and called an ambulance because of the medical symptoms he was complaining about and held him down because he continued fighting them while on the ground. (this is all from the probable cause affidavit, not my interpretation of a single video).
THEY FOUGHT WITH HIM FOR OVER 5 MINUTES TO GET HIM IN THE CAR! Anybody ever wrestle for 5 minutes? It is exhausting.
The preliminary autopsy reveals no effects from strangulation or even positional asphyxia.
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Leaders should tread very lightly right now in what they are calling for and whom they are judging without all the facts.
This was bad policing. I agree. These officers should probably be fired. Why wouldn't you back off your restraint of an unconscious man and begin first-aid? This would be good, and, maybe even policy in some departments. But, legally, a police officer is not required by law to render first aid any more than you are.
To have our justice system process a probable cause affidavit against a citizen as "probable" that a crime occurred when it is actually full of evidence to the contrary, is just as, if not more frightening, than bad cops.
Christians should seek out justice. In our country that means waiting for a trial and assuming someone is innocent until proven guilty by facts; not the feelings of the mob around you.
You can love people.
You can sympathize with people.
You can speak out about ongoing injustice, including in this case.
You can volunteer.
You can use your voice in a bunch of ways.
All of it is great.
Just don't become the thing you claim to hate about this case.
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STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE
Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
5/29/2020
"Derek Michael Chauvin caused the death of George Floyd by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and
evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life."
...
"Officers Kueng and Lane stood Mr. Floyd up and attempted to walk Mr. Floyd to their squad car (MPD 320) at 8:14 p.m. Mr. Floyd stiffened up, fell to the ground, and told the officers he was claustrophobic. MPD Officers Derek Chauvin (the defendant) and Tou Thoa then arrived in a separate squad car.
The officers made several attempts to get Mr. Floyd in the backseat of squad 320 from the driver’s side. Mr. Floyd did not voluntarily get in the car and struggled with the officers by intentionally falling down, saying he was not going in the car, and refusing to stand still. Mr. Floyd is over six feet tall and weighs more than 200 pounds.
While standing outside the car, Mr. Floyd began saying and repeating that he could not breathe. The defendant went to the passenger side and tried to get Mr. Floyd into the car from that side and Lane and Kueng assisted. The defendant pulled Mr. Floyd out of the passenger side of the squad car at 8:19:38 p.m. and Mr. Floyd went to the ground face down and still handcuffed."
...
"An official autopsy revealed nothing to support strangulation as the cause of death, concluding that the combined effects of being restrained, potential intoxicants in Floyd’s system and his underlying health issues, including heart disease, likely contributed to his death."
Full Affidavit:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6933248-27-CR-20-12646-Complaint.html#text/p2