Tou Thao, the former Minneapolis police officer who held bystanders back while George Floyd was killed, was found guilty by Hennepin County judge Peter Cahill.
The second-degree manslaughter conviction was released Tuesday morning, and Thao will be sentenced on Aug. 7.
In his ruling, Cahill writes Thao knew his three fellow officers were on top of George Floyd and that the prone restraint used on Floyd was dangerous.
Cahill notes Thao actively encouraged the officers and assisted their crime by holding bystanders back, declining to render medical aid, and by not allowing bystanders to help Floyd.
Thao was shown on video holding bystanders back and at one point told an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter to "back off."
"The conviction of Tou Thao is historic and the right outcome," said Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, who was the lead prosecutor in the case. "It brings one more measure of accountability in the tragic death of George Floyd. Accountability is not justice, but it is a step on the road to justice."
Meanwhile, retired Hennepin District Court Chief Judge Kevin Burke says Thao's sentencing wraps up a horrible chapter for policing. He says the murder of George Floyd has caused enormous damage to law enforcement not just in Minneapolis, but around the country.
"You're hard pressed to find another example of such destruction that's occurred as a result of a criminal act," says Burke on the Chad Hartman Show. "Or a rogue police officer, or in this case four rogue police officers."
Burke also said Cahill had a clear set of facts to work with in this case.
"The detail with which Judge Cahill outlined what the facts creates a very compelling conclusion, that this officer's conduct is simply not appropriate," said Burke.
Thao’s legal team delivered their closing arguments at the end of January, arguing that the state could not prove their client was aware former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was committing a crime while he knelt on Floyd’s neck, inevitably killing him.
Chauvin was found guilty of murder and civil rights charges.
Following those closing arguments, Judge Cahill said he would rule within 90 days.
That self-imposed deadline expired on Monday.
Thao had held back bystanders during the incident in May 2020, which sparked outrage around the world, as it watched Floyd lapse into unconsciousness.
Altogether four officers were charged in Floyd’s killing, and last August, three of them took a plea deal, while Thao maintained his innocence, rejecting the deal and saying “it would be lying” to plead guilty.
The former officer is still serving a federal prison sentence of 42 months.
Thao opted to forgo a jury trial while his co-defendants, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng pleaded guilty to similar state charges and were sentenced to between 36 and 42 months in prison.
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