The former home in Northern California of a violence expert who testified in defense of ex-cop Derek Chauvin’s murder trial was destroyed this weekend – with a pig’s head and blood, police said.
Police said in a statement that they believe the Santa Rosa house was targeted because it was once the home of Barry Brodd, a retired cop who testified last week in Chauvin’s murder trial in George Floyd’s death.
“It appears that the suspects in this vandalism attacked Mr. Brodd for his testimony,” the department said. “Mr. Brodd has not lived in the home for several years and is no longer a resident of California.”
“Since Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the town of Santa Rosa, it appears that the victim was a false target,” the statement said.
Police said they were called to the house shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday and found a severed pig’s head on the porch and blood smeared in the front of the house.
Police also believe another vandalism attack was carried out by the same people about 45 minutes later.
In that incident, a statue of a large hand was found in front of Santa Rosa Plaza smeared with animal blood, with a sign saying “Oink, oink” on the left of the scene.
Brodd, a former Santa Rosa police officer, testified at Chauvin’s murder trial on Tuesday that he believes the reticence of George Floyd’s ex-cop was consistent with proper police practices.
In a statement released after Brodd’s testimony, Santa Rosa Police Chief Rainer Navarro distanced himself from the former officer of his department.
“We are aware of former Santa Rosa police officer Barry Brodd, who gave testimony in Derek Chauvin’s trial,” Navarro said.
“Mr. Brodd has not been with the department since 2004,” wrote the chief. “His comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa Police Department.