Getting ready to live-tweet another day of testimony in the #DerekChauvinTrial. Motions begin shortly. Here's my wrapup of testimony Friday: minnesotareformer.com/2021/04/02/mpd…
Today we *expect* to hear testimony from an ER physician, and possibly Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.
Motions were supposed to begin at 8:30, but the courtroom reporter says the judge is discussing something with the attorneys this morning and ordered no audio/video. However, the 2 courtroom reporters were allowed to stay in the room & report on the matter later.
Motions now being discussed. Chauvin's attorney, Eric Nelson, wants to introduce additional body worn camera video of Chauvin's, in addition to what was shown last week, showing him continuing to investigate the forgery report that brought police there.
Prosecutor objecting to admitting additional bodycam videos showing conversations/things happening after Floyd was taken away, based on hearsay & relevancy
Judge Cahill allows one body cam video showing Chauvin’s demeanor and actions immediately after Floyd was taken to the hospital; does not allow another body cam video showing Lane and Kueng “giving their side of the story so to speak.”
Now they're bringing the jury in, and then Judge Cahill said audio & video will be cut for some reason which he'll explain once they're in.
The prosecutor, Frank, had argued against allowing the Lane/Kueng body cam video, arguing it was the defense trying to get in “self-serving hearsay” evidence without Derek Chauvin having to testify.
The judge ruled that inadmissible but did allow body cam video showing Chauvin's demeanor and actions immediately after George Floyd was taken to the hospital, saying it is relevant to see.
Audio/video is now cut for a hearing that we'll learn about later. We did hear the judge swear in the jury before the audio was cut.
Before cutting audio, Judge Cahill also mentioned on Wednesday they'll likely take up the issue of Floyd's passenger trying to quash a subpoena. Background: nytimes.com/2021/04/01/us/…
And we're back, Judge Cahill said he conducted a hearing and found no jury misconduct, and so no action will be taken. Hopefully we'll hear more details about this from the pool reporter when they get a break.
Nelson says three officers are expected to testify today, including Chief Medaria Arradondo, who Judge Cahill is allowing to testify that Chauvin's use of force was contrary to policy
They are now arguing over what MPD Sgt. Ker Yang can testify about, regarding crisis intervention and what Chauvin got training on. Yang is in charge of the MPD crisis intervention program.
First witness of day: Dr. Bradford Wankhede Langenfeld, emergency medicine physician, Hennepin County Medical Center
Dr. Bradford Langenfeld is the doctor who officially pronounced George Floyd dead and tried to save his life:
He was a senior resident the night George Floyd was brought in to the Hennepin County Medical Center.
Dr. Langenfeld said George Floyd was in cardiac arrest (his heart had stopped) when he arrived at the ER.
Asked if he ever observed George Floyd's heart beating on its own, Dr. Langenfeld said "Not to a degree sufficient to sustain life."
Dr. Langenfeld testifies most of the time George Floyd was at the hospital, he didn’t have a pulse, but had some electrical activity on the monitor, before devolving into flat lining.
Dr. Langenfeld said it’s well known that any amount of time a patient spends in cardiac arrest without CPR markedly decreases the chances of a good outcome; there's about a 10% reduction in their chance of survival for every minute it’s not administered.
Dr. Langenfeld said based on the history available to him, he felt hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) was the most likely cause of his cardiac arrest and flatlining. He pronounced George Floyd dead after about 30 minutes in his care.
And because he felt hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) was the most likely cause of his cardiac arrest, he believes George Floyd died of asphyxia (death by insufficient oxygen). This is the crux of the case: Did he die of asphyxia or his heart problems combined with a drug overdose?
From the courtroom reporter: Deputy said they’ve removed Chauvin’s visitor chair from the courtroom because nobody has used it. If somebody comes, they’ll put it back.
Courtroom reporter also sheds a little more light on why the jurors were questioned this morning. She writes that they were called in and given paper & asked whether they'd seen a phrase or something similar to it. None of them had.
Then they flipped to a second page and were asked “does anyone recognize that person who’s depicted?" Nobody did. After the jury left he said he was finding the jury was credible and “This was nothing more than social media nonsense.”
Judge Cahill said he did the session with audio and video cut off because “I do not want to encourage internet trolls and this kind of nonsense.”
Prosecutor asked Cahill to issue his findings on the record “Because there could be a question of public trial rights." Cahill said, “The press is present and a member of the Floyd family is present, do we need to?” Frank said yes out of “an abundance of caution." Judge did so.
During cross-examination, Dr. Langenfeld concedes that hypoxia can be caused by drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl or a combination of the two (which the defense has suggested Floyd took).
Chauvin's attorney is now asking questions of the doctor designed to show that methamphetamine and fentanyl could have also caused Floyd's hypoxia/death.
Dr. Langenfeld testifies Floyd’s carbon dioxide level was more than twice the levels of a healthy person.
Next witness: MPD Chief Medaria Arradondo
Dr. Langenfeld said high carbon dioxide levels are consistent with someone in cardiac arrest.
Very unusual to have a police chief testifying in a case like this: #DerekChauvinTrial
Chief Arradondo says he became a cop because he wanted to give back to a city that "embraced me and has been so good to me" —  a city of resilient, welcoming, proud people. He says his "dear parents" taught he & his siblings about the "service of love."
Background on how unusual it is for a police chief to testify in a case like this: theguardian.com/us-news/2021/a…
Chief Arradondo joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1989. In 1997, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant investigating property crimes; then he served as a sergeant in internal affairs – investigating police misconduct – about 2 years before being promoted to lieutenant
Then he was appointed to the rank of commander of the internal affairs division; precinct inspector; deputy chief, chief of staff for the police chief.
And then he was appointed interim police chief by Mayor Betsy Hodges; and permanent police chief by Mayor Jacob Frey.
Chief Arradondo testifies he oversees about 700 police officers. He doesn't mention that's down 200 since last year: startribune.com/minneapolis-ha…
We're getting to the training part of Chief Arradondo's testimony. He's expected to testify that Chauvin's use of force was contrary to MPD policy.
The chief says training is important because "For many in our community, the first time they encounter a Minneapolis police officer may be the only time they do."
Chief Arradondo confirms that the public is allowed to record police activites, unless they’re being obstructed, by policy, since May 2016.
Now the prosecution is going thru various MPD policies with the chief, such as one saying officers shall consider verbally announcing their intent to use force, including displaying an authorized weapon, when reasonable under the circumstances.
Another MPD policy: whenever reasonable, officers shall use de-escalation tactics to gain voluntary compliance and seek to avoid or minimize use of physical force.
MPD officers are required to consider whether the subject’s lack of compliance is a deliberate attempt to resist or an inability to comply (due to medical conditions, mental impairment, drug or alcohol influence...). Chief says people can react differently while under influence.
OK we're breaking for lunch until 1:30. Chief Arradondo is very good at testifying, looking at jurors, speaking to them.
And we're back, Arradondo is talking about de-escalation tactics officers are taught to use.
Meanwhile, Judge Cahill has signed an order allowing Floyd's passenger Morries Hall to wear civilian clothing rather than jail scrubs tomorrow morning for a Zoom hearing on on his motion to quash a subpoena for him to testify. Hall is in Hennepin County jail.
Chief Arradondo now testifying about how officers are trained to try to de-escalate situations and provide basic medical care to people.
Under MPD policy, officers must request EMS (ambulance) as soon as practical if someone is having an acute medical crisis and while awaiting, assist them.
Chief Arradondo says the MPD use of force policy was updated in 2016 to say sanctity of life and protection of public are the cornerstones of the policy.
MPD Chief Arradondo says typically a fake $20 bill would not result in someone being taken into custody.
Courtroom reporter says Terrence Floyd said he was shocked to see how clear the MPD policy was, believes this is integral. Believes the jury really took note of the de-escalation policy. Says his family is staying strong through this. “When they say ‘Floyd Strong’ that’s us.”
Chief says per MPD policy, neck restraints not to be used on people passively resisting
Chief says the first time he saw the street camera footage of the Floyd event, from a distance w/ no audio, “Quite frankly there was really nothing in terms of the actions of at least this non-audio video that really jumped out at me.”
But around midnight, someone called the chief and said, “chief, have you seen the video of your officer choking and killing that man at 38th and Chicago?” He could see better and understand better.
Chief says "I absly do not" believe Chauvin followed MPD de-escalation policy. "That action is not de-escalation," he said. It does not follow policy, he said. Neck restraints are to be light to moderate pressure.
Chief says Chauvin's actions were not within the MPD use of force policy. "That is not what we teach, and that shouldn’t be condoned.”
Asked when the use of force should have stopped, Chief Arradondo says within the first few seconds, once Floyd was no longer resisting, and clearly when he was motionless.
“To continue to apply that level of force to a person prone down, handcuffed behind their back, that in no way, shape or form is anything that is by policy, it is not part of our training, and it is certainly not part of our ethics or values," Chief Arradondo says. #DerekChauvin
Chief Arradondo also said Chauvin violated MPD policy requiring officers to provide medical attention to people in medical stress.
Nelson is cross-examining the police chief, highlighting the gray areas in MPD policy
Chief Arradondo acknowledges MPD policy allowed conscious and unconscious neck restraints on that day, with light to moderate pressure, but says, “It’s contrary to our training to indefinitely place your knee on a prone, handcuffed individual for an indefinite period of time.”
After showing Officer Kueng’s body cam video, Nelson got the chief to say it appears Chauvin’s knee was more on Floyd’s shoulder blade, not his neck, as it appears in the bystander video.
On redirect, the chief acknowledges that was after the ambulance arrived and shortly before Floyd was loaded onto a gurney. Up until then, chief says it appeared to be on Floyd’s neck.
On redirect, Arradondo reiterates the video of Chauvin is not a trained MPD neck restraint, and Floyd did not appear to be actively resisting/aggressive or passively resisting. “As a matter of fact as I saw that video, I didn’t even know if Mr. Floyd was alive at that time.”
And Chief Arradondo is finished testifying.
The next witness is Commander Katie Blackwell of the
Minneapolis Police Department:
Blackwell is in charge of the MPD training program, and has known Derek Chauvin almost 20 years.
Blackwell selected Derek Chauvin to be a field training officer.
Blackwell confirms Chauvin was trained on defensive tactics and use of force annually, twice in 2018 because he got extra as a field training officer
Blackwell said Derek Chauvin putting his knee on Floyd’s neck is not consistent with how he was trained to do neck restraints.
“I don’t know what kind of improvised position that is; it’s not what we trained,” she testifies of her 20-year colleague.
After cross-examination, they have adjourned for the day.

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More from @deenafaywinter

31 Mar
Testimony resumes this morning from the off-duty firefighter who was out for a walk when she came upon George Floyd under the knee of Minneapolis police officers. It got tense yesterday between the defense attorney, judge and firefighter/EMT Genevieve Hansen:
Hansen is back; Chauvin's attorney asks just one more question: whether she showed any ID on the scene. Prosecutor asks whether she had any with her, which she did not.
Prosecutor asks a few questions and Hansen is done testifying. Next up: Christopher Martin, a 19-year-old man from Bloomington who lived above Cup Foods when Floyd died outside the store.
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30 Mar
Derek Chauvin's trial continues today with testimony continuing from Donald Williams, the pro fighter who tried to get officers to get off George Floyd. His testimony yesterday was interrupted by technical difficulties. #DerekChauvintrial
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29 Mar
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to a huge gaggle of reporters outside the courthouse as #DerekChauvin trial opening arguments begin today in Minneapolis Image
Judge Peter Cahill is swearing in the jury now.
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13 Mar
More video of last night's incident near 38th & Chicago:
MPD says officers heard shots coming from a vehicle in the area of Franklin Avenue East and Chicago Avenue South & attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled. The vehicle stopped in the are area of 38th Street East and Elliot and three suspects were taken into custody.🧵
One of the suspects had a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the hand. "Due to circumstances in the area," officers removed all 3 suspects and the vehicle. The victim was transported to HCMC by ambulance. The driver was booked into the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center.
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12 Mar
BREAKING: Minneapolis City Council announces $27 million settlement with George Floyd's family
Presser about to begin Image
Whole lotta props being given to Minneapolis City Council by Floyd family’s attorneys Image
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11 Mar
We're back in session today for #DerekChauvintrial, ask both sides argue merits of reinstate 3rd degree murder charge. I kinda expect that to happen.
BREAKING: Judge Cahill grants motion to reinstate 3rd degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin
And we have our 6th juror; a man who is a route driver who says he's a family man who is fascinated by crime stories.
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