Millions Spent On Derek Chauvin Trial
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The weekslong trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin cost Minnesota's Hennepin County about $3.7 million.
Documents released by the county Friday show the sheriff's office spent about $3.2 million on employee salaries, equipment and security for the courthouse.
Activists Rally For Justice For George Floyd Ahead Of Trial Of Derek Chauvin
After salaries, the single largest expense was for added courthouse security, which cost more than $773,000. The sheriff's office spent $18,000 for a drone to monitor “restricted airspace.”
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Costs for the Attorney General's Office and the state courts were not immediately available.
Chauvin was convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd and was sentenced in April to 22 1/2 years in prison.
derek chauvin writing on hand verdict
Timeline: George Floyd's Death, Protests, Riots, Arrests, Chauvin Trial
It was late afternoon on Memorial Day, 2020 and many Minnesotans had observed the normally active weekend hunkered down because of the growing pandemic.
George Floyd drove to a grocery store in Minneapolis and bought some cigarettes. He was accused by employees of making the purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill and police were called. Floyd was still there in his vehicle when two officers arrived. About 10 minutes later, Chauvin and another officer showed up and the situation began to escalate. Chauvin began kneeling on Floyd's neck as he was facedown on the street. Despite repeated pleas from Floyd and a growing crowd of bystanders to remove his knee, Chauvin continued as if frozen in position with no facial expression.
After more than 8 minutes, Chauvin finally stood up and Floyd had become unresponsive. An ambulance was called and a short while later, it was reported Floyd was dead.
A video of the incident slowly spread on social media around the state, the country and the world. Viewers literally watched a man slowly die, repeating "I can't breathe."
The now historic response began the following day.
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