By Erin Ailworth, Ben Kesling and Sadie Gurman
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Justice Department said Thursday that it had
made the investigation into George Floyd's death a priority,
assigning experienced prosecutors and FBI criminal investigators to
the case.
The announcement by the DOJ followed more clashes Wednesday
night between police and demonstrators over the death of Mr. Floyd,
a black man, who died after a white police officer pinned him to
the ground with a knee on his neck.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Minneapolis
police officers broke federal law, which will include an
examination of whether they willfully violated Mr. Floyd's
constitutional rights. Authorities will seek charges if they find
sufficient evidence of a crime, the department said.
Officials described the investigation as comprehensive and
robust.
"The Department of Justice asks for cooperation from all
witnesses who believe they have relevant information and urges calm
as investigators methodically continue to gather facts," the
department said in a statement issued by U.S. Attorney Erica
MacDonald and the Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent in
charge, Rainer Drolshagen.
It was a notably strong statement from the Justice Department,
which often takes a more muted tone in describing continuing
investigations.
Firefighters on Thursday morning sprayed down a flaming roof of
a business as residents took morning walks over broken glass to
survey damage, including a McDonald's recognizable only by its
salvaged drive-through menu, and a looted Auto Zone with a handmade
sign on the smashed front door that said: "Free shit for
everybody!"
Wednesday night in Los Angeles, demonstrators marched on a major
freeway and at least one protester could be seen in video, verified
by Storyful, being injured after falling off a moving police car.
Protests also took place in Memphis, Tenn.
Protesters gathered for a second night Wednesday evening outside
the Minneapolis Police Department's third precinct, where some had
smashed windows on the building and on squad cars the night before.
Police stood atop the precinct, intermittently firing smoke, gas
and other projectiles in an attempt to disperse the group.
The crowd grew violent late Wednesday evening, looting a Target
and Cub Food supermarket, setting fire to an Auto Zone, and
smashing the windows of other nearby businesses.
"The situation near Lake Street and Hiawatha in Minneapolis has
evolved into an extremely dangerous situation," Minnesota Gov. Tim
Walz tweeted just after 10:30 p.m. "For everyone's safety, please
leave the area and allow firefighters and paramedics to get to the
scene."
Residents of Hiawatha Commons, an apartment building on the edge
of the shopping plaza that included the looted Target, watched the
destruction from their windows and cars.
One resident said she had been sitting in her car since before
sunset, just in case she needed to leave quickly.
"We're afraid to go to bed," said the woman, who declined to
give her name. "I've never seen this."
In Facebook video that emerged Tuesday, Mr. Floyd, a black man,
can be seen being pinned to the ground by a white officer,
identified as Derek Chauvin, who has his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck.
Other footage later emerged showing two other officers sitting on
Mr. Floyd's body. Mr. Floyd is heard pleading that he can't
breathe, and eventually loses consciousness. He was pronounced dead
later that evening.
Minneapolis police said they arrested Mr. Floyd for using a
counterfeit bill, and that he resisted arrest. Attorney Benjamin
Crump, who is representing Mr. Floyd's family, said the man never
resisted arrest and shouldn't have been treated so violently.
The four officers involved in the incident were fired Tuesday
morning, and federal and state authorities have announced
investigations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for charges to
be brought against Mr. Chauvin but didn't say which charges should
be sought.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said it would be a
shame if "the top count was negligent homicide," in a radio
interview Thursday. He also warned of the dangers of an aggressive
charge not supported by facts that could lead to a not-guilty
verdict.
The charging decision rests with Hennepin County Attorney Mike
Freeman. Minneapolis police and Mr. Freeman's office didn't respond
to a request for comment.
National police organizations have condemned Mr. Chauvin's
actions, and President Donald Trump tweeted his support for the
Floyd family.
Police were staged early Thursday in riot gear with helmets, as
protesters formed, one man at the front with a bullhorn chanting
and yelling.
"This is sad, really, really sad," said Teresa White, 61, a
neighborhood resident who stood near the Target store with her
sister and surveyed the damage. "How much more are they going to do
to our neighborhood and leave? They don't even live here."
Write to Erin Ailworth at Erin.Ailworth@wsj.com, Ben Kesling at
benjamin.kesling@wsj.com and Sadie Gurman at
sadie.gurman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 28, 2020 13:12 ET (17:12 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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