Thread by @PaulBlume_FOX9

COURT IN SESSION: Attorneys arguing about expected evidence & upcoming testimony from defense today. Specifically related to Park Police officer Peter Chang, who looked up #GeorgeFloyd info on squad computer during deadly encounter w/ #Mpls police officers. #DerekChauvinTrial

#DerekChauvin defense attorney Eric Nelson fighting for officer Chang evidence, specifically relating to group of bystanders on sidewalk. Were they a risk/threat to officers dealing w/ #GeorgeFloyd? Seems Nelson is going to stick passionately w/ idea crowd was threatening. @FOX9

Defense has some editing to do on Police officer Chang's body worn camera video. Specifically cutting out #GeorgeFloyd personal info we are told is clearly visible on in-squad computer screen. Nelson asks for 10 minutes to do that. Judge says jury will come in for 9:30am start.

Other AM developments to look for:
State formally resting case after some book keeping on exhibits, etc.
Defense potentially asking Judge Cahill for a directed verdict, arguing state failed to prove charges.
Morries Hall officially taking the 5th.
Defense start calling witnesses.

BREAKING: State of Minnesota rests its case in #DerekChauvinTrial Defense calling 1st witness.

1ST DEFENSE WITNESS: #Mpls police officer Scott Creighton. Creighton was part of 2019 drug arrest of #GeorgeFloyd. I expect this is the witness the defense will use to get body worn camera footage from that prior incident entered into evidence for this jury to watch.

Creighton has retired from MPD. Judge Cahill has read a statement to the jury about the May 6, 2019 arrest of #GeorgeFloyd. Judge tells them, this is *not* to be used as character evidence against #GeorgeFloyd. Its limited intent is to show potential impact of opioids on Floyd.

Judge Cahill has allowed #DerekChauvin defense permission to play a short clip from officer Creighton's body worn camera footage from the 2019 arrest. Creighton's approach only until #GeorgeFloyd gets out of vehicle & is handcuffed. @FOX9

2019 FLOYD ARREST: Officer Creighton testifies encounter with #GeorgeFloyd escalated quickly with him having to draw his service weapon. Here is some additional footage of the arrest from its initial public evidence release. Again, jury only watched to point Floyd is handcuffed.

Officer Creighton testimony complete. 2nd witness connected to '19 drug arrest of #GeorgeFloyd. Jury gets same warning from Judge Cahill about how this testimony can be used. Michelle Monseng is retired Hennepin EMS & will speak to Floyd's health vitals at time of prior arrest.

Judge again limiting testimony of this witness, retired paramedic Monseng so as not to prejudice jury. She told court #GeorgeFloyd blood pressure was extremely high. Floyd told her he had taken a bunch of pills, she recalls percoset or oxy. Reportedly said he was addicted.

After a pair of defense witnesses connected to #GeorgeFloyd 2019 drug arrest finished brief appearances on the stand, Judge Cahill has called for a short break. #DerekChauvinTrial in recess now for 5-10 minutes. @FOX9

SHAWANDA HILL ON STAND: Defense has called #GeorgeFloyd companion Shawanda Hill to testify. Before jury comes in, Judge Cahill debriefs w/ her about her testimony. Tells her she can plead the 5th, but will likely be asked if she was under influence at time of the deadly arrest.

Shawanda Hill testimony is underway. She tells court she ran into #GeorgeFloyd inside Cup Foods on Memorial Day. They headed to the SUV together. She described Floyd as "happy, normal, talking & alert" in the store. Says he fell asleep in vehicle as she took a cell phone call.

Hill testifies #GeorgeFloyd was sleeping hard in the SUV driver seat. She tried several times to wake him up and couldn't. Hill says Floyd eventually woke up as she tried one more time & police approached, with gun at window. #DerekChauvinTrial

And that wraps Shawanda Hill testimony. She was not asked in open court if she was under the influence of controlled substances during her time w/ #GeorgeFloyd. Defense now calling Park Police officer Peter Chang to the stand. #DerekChauvinTrial

INSIDE THE SUV: Shawanda Hill telling the jury about her attempts & those of Cup Food employees to wake up #GeorgeFloyd as Floyd slept in the driver's seat of his SUV. #DerekChauvinTrial

#Mpls Park Police officer Peter Chang testifies from his perspective across street from Cup Foods, crowd of bystanders watching #GeorgeFloyd arrest grew "more loud & aggressive," noting some were yelling. Chang testifies he was concerned for the officers directly handling Floyd.

MORE FROM SHAWANDA HILL:

Prosecutor: Did #GeorgeFloyd seem startled when the officer pulled a gun on him?

Hill: Very.

Jury continues to watch officer Chang's body worn camera footage. Chang is tasked w/ keeping track of #GeorgeFloyd companions Morries Hall & Shawanda Hill. They were also in SUV. Morries appears to give a bogus name. Officer Chang tells them Floyd "is making it more difficult."

Officer Chang testimony is finished. Judge Cahill calls 10 minute break to check on availability of next defense witness. Then all sides head into chambers to talk. Is this the Morries Hall moment? Stay tuned... #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

Early look at noontime news conference organized on the courthouse grounds. Expecting @AttorneyCrump to bring together the families of #GeorgeFloyd &
#DaunteWright. Crump representing both families who've recently lost loved ones in deadly use of force encounters w/ area police.

VERY AGGRESSIVE: #Mpls Park Police officer describing the crowd of bystanders watching the arrest of #GeorgeFloyd outside Cup Foods.

Defense recalled MPD officer Nicole Mackenzie right before lunch break. Both sides asked her about "excited delirium" training officer Lane received. Judge told jury, no evidence #DerekChauvin had gotten same training. Her quick testimony is done. Break until 1:15pm central.

BACK IN SESSION: Defense has called use of force expert Barry Brodd to witness stand to start the afternoon session. According to media reports, Brodd previously testified in the Jason Van Dyke/Laquan McDonald deadly shooting in Chicago, concluding the shooting was justified.

National use of force expert Barry Brodd tells jurors he concluded #DerekChauvin was objectively reasonable in his interactions with #GeorgeFloyd during arrest. Justifying Chauvin's conduct. Defense attorney Eric Nelson now has Brodd detailing how he reached his opinions.

Barry Brodd concluded that #GeorgeFloyd arrest was NOT a deadly use of force. Comparing the situation to an officer deploying a taser on a domestic violence call with the suspect then slamming their head as they fall, dying from the injury. #DerekChauvinTrial

Barry Brodd on the crowd: "started to grow in size.. becoming more vocal.. officers are now trained to deal with the biggest threat. Is it the suspect handcuffed underneath? Or is it now the crowd that might impact my arrest tactics?" Cross exam up next. #DerekChauvinTrial

THREE-PRONGED ANALYSIS: National police use of force expert Barry Brodd finds #DerekChauvin actions justified in Chauvin's response to the level of resistance from #GeorgeFloyd.

SAFER FOR THE OFFICERS & SUSPECT IN PRONE CONTROL: National police use of force expert Barry Brodd on why #Mpls police were justified keeping #GeorgeFloyd face down, handcuffed outside Cup Foods. #DerekChauvinTrial

Judge Peter Cahill is sending the jury home following the completion of witness testimony from defense use of force expert Barry Brodd. Cahill says the attorneys have some legal matters to discuss now. So court remains in session w/out the jury. #GeorgeFloyd #DerekChauvinTrial

Barry Brodd's former PD in Santa Rosa, CA distancing itself from his trial testimony w/ this statement on city website:
"Mr. Brodd has not been employed by the department since 2004. His comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa PD."
- Chief Rainer Navarro