Minneapolis (AP) – Two Minnesota citizens filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Minneapolis and Derek Shawn on Tuesday, alleging they were injured when a former police officer used his “signature move” to kneel on the neck, as he did. . He killed George Floyd.
John Pope Jr. was only 14 in September 2017 when he said Shawn used unfair force on him when he responded to a domestic assault report. Another case alleges Shawn used excessive force against the Zoya code in June 2017 after attempting to strangle his mother with a long dress.
Same cause of supporting racism; Pope and Code are black and Shawn is white. They say the city knew he had a history of misconduct, but it didn’t stop and allowed him to stay at work long enough. Kill Floyd on May 25, 2020 The case led to a National Calculus on Racial Injustice. Both lawsuits seek unspecified damages and appoint other officers.
The Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office said it is reviewing the settlements. Criminal cases against the Pope and the Code have certainly been dropped.
“The incidents involving John Pop and Zoya Cody are disturbing,” City Attorney Peter Ginder said in a statement. “We will advance negotiations with the plaintiffs on these two issues and hope to reach a reasonable solution. If it is not possible to reach a solution to one or both claims, the dispute should be resolved in the normal course of action. litigation.
Shawn’s attorneys were not immediately available for comment.
Shawn pleaded guilty to multiple charges against the pope when he pleaded guilty in December A federal civil rights charge in connection with Floyd’s death, a deal that also included a plea of guilty to his actions against the pope . Shawn is awaiting sentencing On federal charges. Sent 22 1/2 Years Last year in a state court for Floyd’s murder, a black man pressed his knee to his neck for 9 and a half minutes because he said he couldn’t breathe.
According to the pope’s complaint, his mother was drunk when he called the police because it was nervous about him and his 16-year-old sister because it left cell phone chargers when not in use, which led to physical confrontation. He claims that Shovin hit the pope with a large metal torch at least four times in the back when there was a fight, and then stabbed the pope in the chin.
Defendant Shawn made his signature move: he attacked Johnny on the floor with the weight of his body, pressing the left knee to Johnny’s back and neck. . “During these minutes, Johnny was repeatedly screaming that he couldn’t breathe.”
The complaint states that at least eight other officers did not intervene. Shawn allegedly did not mention in his report that he struck the Pope with his torch, nor did he mention the Pope’s attachment for a very long time. Sergeant Shawn reviewed and approved his report and use of force, “even though he knew directly that the report was incorrect and misleading,” it said.
The lawsuit alleges that in addition to the physical injuries, the Pope suffered severe emotional distress and continues to receive counseling and therapy.
The Code case states that Shawn and another officer were investigating a report of a mother’s assault when, after a brief argument, handcuffs were placed on the ground. When he refused to get up, officers pulled him out.
“Outside the residence, the accused Shovin threw Zoya’s defenseless head to the ground for free. “Then he immediately took his characteristic position, kneeling on Zoya’s neck,” the complaint reads. His knee was allegedly on his neck for 4 minutes and 41 seconds.
The Code complaint states that Shawn’s partner did not intervene that day and his sergeant subsequently reviewed the shift and approved the use of force.
Kodek acknowledges a history of mental illness and homelessness and says Shawn’s actions exacerbated his condition.
Both lawsuits state that if the department imposed disciplinary action on Shawn, “history could have prevented him from repeating it to George Floyd.”
Source: Huffpost
