The former Minneapolis Police Department officer charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd is asking prosecutors to block alleged evidence of him using neck restraining methods during arrests on previous suspects.
Derek Chauvin was seen on video in late May using a neck restraining method on Floyd for nearly eight minutes while Floyd was on the ground handcuffed and pleading for air.
Nelson said Chauvin had been "acquitted by MPD supervisors of applying force in a manner that was either unreasonable or unauthorized."
"The state attempts to characterize Mr. Chauvin’s use of force as 'unreasonable' or 'beyond what was needed,'" the lawyer said. "And in every single one, it was determined by a supervisor that Mr. Chauvin’s use of force was reasonable in the circumstances and authorized by law and MPD policy."
Nelson's court filing came after prosecutors said they were looking to propose eight incidents throughout Chauvin’s career where the former officer allegedly used "excessive force" and behavior similar to the encounter that resulted in the death of Floyd.
The prosecutors claimed that in at least four cases, Chauvin restrained suspects "beyond the point when such force was needed."
In one case, Chauvin is accused of using a similar restraining method on an intoxicated man when responding to a domestic disturbance call.
The call was reported by an unknown caller who witnessed an unidentified man armed with a knife pour gasoline throughout a house.
Prosecutors mentioned the case because Chauvin placed the suspect in a "recovery position" after realizing he had lost consciousness, something he didn't do with Floyd when he pleaded for air.
Chauvin was released on a $1 million bond in October and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.
Earl Gray, the attorney for former officer Lane, alleged that Floyd had contributed to his own death by consuming a lethal dose of fentanyl.