(WCCO) Before he was arrested on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, Officer Derek Chauvin participated in "intense negotiations" on a plea deal, per Daily Beast and other sources.
Talks failed.
“There were early negotiations with the defendant, between the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. attorney,” Hennepin County Attorney spokesperson Chuck Laszewski confirmed to FOX 9. “Ultimately, those negotiations failed.”
The terms of negotiation are unknown so no one knows what exactly prosecutors offered the former cop or what his legal team sought.
Many outlets reported that the day after the talks failed, Chauvin arrested him and the Hennepin County Attorney had charged him with third-degree murder. Those charges were later upgraded, and the other three officers pictured at the scene were also charged with aiding and abetting murder.
A fundraiser is ongoing for one of those officers, Thomas Lane, by supporters who claim he did everything he could to save Floyd's life. Chauvin, as senior officer, was responsible, Lane's supporters say. The fundraising site says that Lane "used his voice, not once, but multiple times, to plead with senior officer Chauvin and the other officers to roll Mr. Floyd to his side, stating he was nervous about excited delirium."
All four of the officers shown on video at the scene are being held on $1 million bond.