Thread by @AnaViLastra

You may have wondered why the state and defense attorneys ask questions in certain ways. @KirstenKSTP learned why those questions are equally as important the testimony in the #DerekChauvinTrial

kstp.com/news/in-derek-…

And @CallanGrayNews spoke with Lee Hutton about why Thursday’s testimony from the two paramedics and now-retired Sgt. Pleoger was so significant. #DerekChauvinTrial kstp.com/news/experienc…

Jon Edwards with the Minneapolis Police Dept. is the first witness on the stand this morning. #DerekChauvinTrial

Steve Schleicher for the state is asking Edwards about his MPD career. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards was part of the Community Response Team (CRT) and the community engagement unit. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards is on leave right now. Prior to going on leave he was assigned to the 3rd precinct dogwatch shift. He's one of three sergeants on that shift. #DerekChauvinTrial

Steve Schleicher for the state asks Sgt. Edwards to point out Derek Chauvin. Edwards says he doesn't know him personally, but recognizes him. Edwards was not Chauvin's direct supervisor. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards says Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kunng did a rotation on his shift at one point, back when they were both still working with FTO #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards testifies that Sgt. David Pleoger called him to say he was at the hospital with a male "that he described may or may not live." #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards says Pleoger asked him to go to 38th & Chicago "...to secure that area and make contact with any of his officers...because this was a potential to be a possible critical incident." #DerekChauvinTrial

Schleicher asks Edwards about body cameras and making sure they are active.

Edwards says yes. He arrived at 38th & Chicago around 9:35 p.m. #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards says when he arrived there weren't many people around...just officers Keung and Lane. #DerekChauvinTrial

This is a still frame from Sgt. Edwards' body camera video. He identifies officers Lane & Keung in the frame. Edwards told both officers "if your body worn cameras not on turn it on now." They both did.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards then directed Lane & Keung to place crime scene tape around the areas where they interacted with George Floyd earlier that evening. Body cam shows Keung putting up crime scene tape. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards marked the area where he had the officers put up crime scene tape. He says at the time it was just Keung & Lane, but he then asked for additional officers to keep the area secure. #DerekChauvinTrial

Schleicher asks Sgt. Edwards to identify the officers in this frame. Thomas Lane is in the center background. The other officers are on Edwards shift. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards says he heard from Sgt. Pleoger who said "escort sergeants" would be coming down. Asked him to remain on the scene to keep it from being contaminated. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards says at this point, shown below, he asked Keung & Lane to get out of the vehicle and leave their belongings inside to secure it. #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards says the squad car was still running when BCA arrived. They shut it down when BCA took it into their custody. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards asked his officers to canvass the area.

Edwards: We knew that the incident occurred before we got to work so you know I guess we were just trying to get lucky, maybe there was somebody still there, that he was willing to talk to us.

Sgt. Edwards spoke with Charles McMillian at the scene. Edwards says he refused to say anything and that he wanted to leave.

We heard from McMillian earlier this week. #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards says he told Lane & Keung to "chill out" because he knew the escort sergeants were on their way to the scene. Their body cameras were still active at this point. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards says Sgt. Pleoger asked him to speak to the manager at Cup Foods. Edwards says he had a brief conversation with the manager who told him he didn't witness anything. #DerekChauvinTrial

This still frame shows Sgt. Edwards and Lt. Zimmerman from the homicide unit. Time stamp shows this was around 10:06 p.m. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards testifies that Sgt. Dale informed him Floyd had died. He says it happened shortly after Dale & Zimmerman arrived (after 10 p.m.) #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards identifies one of the sergeants who arrived at the scene to transport officers Keung and Lane to City Hall to be interviewed. #DerekChauvinTrial

Edwards identifies this man as BCA Special Agent Phil. The still frame also shows George Floyd's vehicle and the squad car. #DerekChauvinTrial

Here's the still frame. Thought I attached it. #DerekChauvinTrial

This image shows the BCA towing away squad 320.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards testifies that shortly after the BCA towed the cars they said MPD could take down the crime scene tape and leave. Edwards says this is his hand helping. #DerekChauvinTrial

Sgt. Edwards testimony is done. Eric Nelson declined to cross examine.

Next witness is up. #DerekChauvinTrial

The state called MPD Lt. Richard Zimmerman to the stand. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman has been in law enforcement since 1981. He started his MPD career in 1985. #DerekChauvinTrial

Matthew Frank is asking Zimmerman about his career in MPD, establishing his credentials. #DerekChauvinTrial

Deleted previous. That was Edwards' body camera. You see Lt. Zimmerman approaching them in the body camera. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman: "Well, if you're an involved officer, you need to be brought down to Room 100 at City Hall, and you need to be brought down by a supervisor in separate cars." #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman is walking Frank through what they look for at the scene. He says they look for cameras, including Milestone cameras which are MPD cameras located across the city. We saw that video earlier this week. #DerekChauvinTrial

Frank: We call them pole cameras...
Zimmerman: Yeah, yeah. Yes, the older guys do.
Frank: The older guys and me.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman testifies officers, including high ranking officers like himself, have to do use of force training once a year. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman explains the use of force continuum that is MPD policy.

1: officer presence in uniform
2: Verbal
3: Soft technique, exp. escorting by the arm
4. Hard technique, exp. handcuffs, mace
5. Deadly force

#DerekChauvinTrial

Frank: What level of force might that be?
Z: That would be the top tier, the deadly force.
F: Why?
Z: Because of the fact that if your knee is on a person's neck that can kill them. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman testifies he has never been trained to "kneel on the neck of someone who is handcuffed behind the back" in his time with MPD. #DerekChauvinTrial

Frank: What's your responsibility with regard to that person from that moment [handcuffed] on?

Zimmerman: That person is yours, is your responsibility.
His safety is your responsibility and his well being is your responsibility. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman says "the treat level is just not there" once someone is handcuffed.

Zimmerman has been handcuffed as part of his training and says "it stretches the muscles back through your chest, and it makes it more difficult to breathe." #DerekChauvinTrial

Now on prone position...
Z: "You need to turn them on their side, or have them sit up. You need to get them off their chest...As I have mentioned earlier, your muscles are pulling back, when you're handcuffed....That's constricting your breathing, even more.

Zimmerman says officers are given CPR training.

Frank: Is there an obligation to provide medical intervention when necessary?
Z: Absolutely.

They're currently on a morning break. Should be back shortly. #DerekChauvinTrial

They're back now. Matthew Frank asks Lt. Zimmerman if he watched the bystander video and if he considered the knee on Floyd's neck a use of force.

Zimmerman says yes. #DerekChauvinTrial

Watch live:

Frank: What is your view on that use of force?
Zimmerman: Totally unnecessary. #DerekChauvinTrial

Z: Pulling him down to the ground face down and putting your knee on a neck for that amount...of time is just uncalled for. I saw no reason why the officers felt they were in danger, if that's what they felt. That's what they would have to feel..to use that kind of force.

Eric Nelson is now cross examining Lt. Zimmerman.
Nelson: Your assignments have been investigative in nature?
Z: Correct, yes.
N: And generally speaking, an investigative role is more of a follow up type role?
Z: Right.
#DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: And it's fair to say then that your experience with the use of force of late has been primarily through your training?
Zimmerman: Yes. #DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: The frequency with which you have to use higher levels of force as an investigator doesn't happen all that often. Right?
Zimmerman: Correct.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson is now asking Lt. Zimmerman about his responses about medical assistance and training. #DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: A police officers responsibility is to keep the scene secure and safe, agreed?
Zimmerman: Yes.

#DerekChauvinTrial

N: Scene security is maintaining the safety of everyone around, including yourself and your partners, right?
Z: Yes.
N: Securing the scene is making sure that the scene itself is preserved, and kept tight. Right?
Z: Correct, yes. #DerekChauvinTrial

N: If you have to use force against 1 person to avoid using force against others, that's a factor that an officer should consider agreed?
Z: I don't know if I would agree with that.
N: Within the training dept. people...that they may be better to answer those questions.
Z: Yes

N: You have been trained in the prone handcuffing techniques?
Z: Correct, yes.
N: And it's your testimony that MPD has never trained anyone to put their knee across the shoulder and to the base of the neck?
Z: I didn't say that. #DerekChauvinTrial

Zimmerman: We've certainly been trained to put the knee on the shoulder, but I don't know about just restraining a person. I don't recall being trained in that...

#DerekChauvinTrial

N: You also testified that once a person is handcuffed the threat, I think you said, is gone. It's at the lowest threat level.
Z: Right, Yes.
N: ...a person who's handcuff can still pose a threat. Right?
Z: Um, I suppose they could. Yeah. #DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: Officers have been attacked with their own handcuffs, in your experience right?
Zimmerman: Oh yeah, yes.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: The body camera is only so effective, to show what the body camera sees and not what the officer sees.
Zimmerman: That's correct.

#DerekChauvinTrial

Nelson: You heard this call came out and you kind of self assigned to show up here...to make sure that the officers who had responded to the scene were doing the things that they should be doing in connection with a critical incident.
Zimmerman: That's correct.

Matthew Frank is back redirecting Lt. Zimmerman. #DerekChauvinTrial

F: You were asked if you are a trainer and you are not a use of force trainer.
Z: That's correct.
F:...based on all the training you go through every year, it's well known that the prone position is dangerous. Z:Absolutely. #DerekChauvinTrial

F: When you watch the body camera videos, did those videos capture those types of circumstances relative to the restraint of Mr Floyd?
Z: Yes.

#DerekChauvinTrial

F: When you watch those videos, at some point during the restraint, did you see Mr. Floyd kicking the officers?
Z:No.

#DerekChauvinTrial

F: Does holding for EMS excuse an officer from providing medical attention that they've been trained to provide?
Z: No it doesn't. #DerekChauvinTrial

F: In your review of the body cams did you see any need for officer Chauvin to improvise by putting his knee on Mr Floyd for nine minutes and 29 seconds?
Z: No I did not.
F: Nothing further your honor.

Zimmerman is excused.
#DerekChauvinTrial

Judge Cahill is releasing jurors for the weekend.

He says they'll resume Monday by 9:30 a.m.

#DerekChauvinTrial