Chief Special Agent James Reyerson of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testified on Wednesday about the death of George Floyd in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin. Hide pool via AP caption
Toggle labeling
Pool via AP
Chief Special Agent James Reyerson of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testified on Wednesday about the death of George Floyd in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin.
Pool via AP
Senior Special Agent James Reyerson of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testified in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin when George Floyd died last May.
The BCA routinely investigates incidents of violence by the police in Minnesota. Chauvin is charged with second and third degree murder and manslaughter. Video footage of the scene showed Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck area for more than nine minutes.
When questioned by Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson, Reyerson initially testified that an officer’s body cam video appeared to capture Floyd and said, “I ate too many drugs,” although the statement is difficult to read in the chaos of the moment, reporters Jon Collins of Minnesota Public Radio Reports.
Under questioning by prosecutors, BCA agent James Reyerson heard an extended version of the tape and said he heard Floyd say, “I don’t use drugs,” NOT, “I ate too many drugs. (10)
– Jon Collins (@ JonSCollins) April 7, 2021
After Nelson first played the clip, he asked, “Have you ever heard Mr. Floyd say, ‘I ate too many drugs?’ “”
“No,” Reyerson replied.
Nelson played the clip a second time and asked, “Apparently, did Mr. Floyd say, ‘I ate too many drugs?'”
This time Reyerson said, “Yeah, it did.”
But later, with additional questioning by the prosecutor, the agent withdrew and said he had now heard something else.
After listening to a longer recording than the one played by the defense, the Reyerson said what Floyd actually said, “I don’t do drugs.”
The reversal was a blow to the defense that established the argument that Floyd, who had a history of substance abuse, died not from Chauvin’s knee in the neck, but from complications from drugs in his system or from underlying medical conditions.
Defense attorney Eric Nelson just got BCA agent James Reyerson to admit that Floyd apparently said, “I ate too many drugs” in a video clip (it’s REALLY hard to hear what was being said from the stream). (8th)
– Jon Collins (@ JonSCollins) April 7, 2021
Prosecutors played too Side-by-side videos from the body camera of another officer and the viewer video recorded by Darnella Frazer, in which it is determined that Floyd apparently stopped moving at 8:24:58 pm. When Reyerson showed a still image that was taken minutes later – at 8:26:40 PM – he confirmed that Chauvin can be seen with his weight on Floyd. He added that the defendant’s equipment, including his vest and belt, had a additional 30-40 pounds.
Prosecutor’s Notes Floyd paused at 8:24:58 PM. Posts picture from 8:26:40 pm and asks Reyerson if Chauvin had his weight on Floyd. Reyerson said he did. pic.twitter.com/0q0c3N5f7t
– Rochelle Olson (@rochelleolson) April 7, 2021
Prosecutors also presented pictures of the allegedly fake $ 20 bill that George Floyd used in Cup Foods. Reyerson said he retrieved it in a Manila envelope from the responding police’s vehicle.
