Thomas Lane — one of the ex-Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting a murder in regards to George Floyd’s death — was granted conditional release on Wednesday (June 10) after posting $750,000 bail. Lane had been held in the Hennepin County Jail after he and ex-officers Tou Thao and Alexander Kueng were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting a murder in the second-degree.
On Monday (June 8), The New York Times revealed ex-cop Derek Chauvin’s bail to be set at $1.25 million. Chauvin’s charge was upgraded last Wednesday (June 3) to second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In the brutal video of Floyd’s fatal arrest, Chauvin could be seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, while Floyd pleaded for air. The three other officers, Lane, Thao and Kueng, were seen restraining his legs and back.
According to TMZ, Lane’s family may have crowdfunded the money for his bail through a website that accepts Paypal donations. Lane’s attorney Earl Gray reportedly told the outlet “It’s pretty good news,” when asked how Lane raised the money for bail.
The New York Times reports that the lawyers for both Lane and Kueng — who were rookie officers — have blamed Chauvin as their training officer. Lane’s attorney and family claim that Lane suggested to Chauvin that he roll Floyd over on his side so he could breathe, which Lane says Chauvin refused to do.
However, all four officers could be seen restraining Floyd, with both rookie officers Lane and Kueng holding down his legs while he cried for air. If convicted, Lane faces a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison. The four defendants are scheduled to appear in court on June 29, where they will enter their pleas and some evidence from the state’s investigation will be revealed.
Floyd was laid to rest on Tuesday (June 9) in his hometown of Houston, Texas, following memorial services in Minneapolis and North Carolina.