Minnesota, EE.UU.
Pressing your knee on George Floyd’s neck while handcuffed and face down was a “deadly force of the highest order” and something “totally unnecessary,” said Lieutenant Richard Zimmerman, director of the homicide division of the United States Police Department. on Friday. Minneapolis.
“ If your knee is in someone’s neck, it can be fatal, ” Zimmerman said, adding that when someone is cuffed in the prone position, “ their muscles pull back … and when they’re on their chest, that is. his breathing is even more limited. “
Zimmerman also testified in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial that once Floyd was shackled, he “ saw no reason why officers felt they were in danger, if they felt it, and that’s what they should feel to be able to handle that kind of violence. use. ”.
“So in your opinion, should that reluctance have ceased once he was handcuffed and on the ground?” Asked prosecutor Matthew Frank.
“Absolutely,” Zimmerman replied.
He also testified that officers have a duty to care for a person in need, even if an ambulance has already been called.
During questioning, Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson harassed Zimmerman with questions about the use of force, noting that officers should consider the whole situation when deciding whether or not to use force, including what happens with a suspect and when under the influence of other hazards in the area, such as a crowd.
Zimmerman agreed with Nelson that someone with handcuffs can still be a threat and stumble.
His testimony came a day after a supervising police sergeant on duty the night Floyd died testified that he believes officers held him for too long.
David Pleoger testified on Thursday that officers are trained to put people on their sides to help them breathe after being held face down. He said agents may not hold Floyd again after he stopped resisting.