Mpls. City Council settles 2 civil cases against Derek Chauvin for nearly $9 million
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday settled two civil cases against former officer Derek Chauvin for nearly $9 million.
Both lawsuits allege that Chauvin used excessive force three years before George Floyd's murder, including on one person who was 14 years old at the time. Seven additional MPD officers and the City of Minneapolis are also named in the lawsuits.
The lawsuits claim Chauvin "actively sought to prey on compliant Black arrestees," including Floyd and the plaintiffs, who are identified in court documents as John Pope and Zoya Code.
RELATED: 2 Lawsuits Filed Against Convicted Ex-MPD Officer Derek Chauvin, Alleging Excessive Force In 2017
Pope's case was settled for $7.5 million while Code's was settled for $1.375 million, totaling $8.875 million.
"Our city deeply apologizes"
Minneapolis leaders reacted to the settlements in an afternoon news conference.
"To John Pope, Zoya Code, and anyone else that has experienced this kind of egregious conduct at the hands of Derek Chauvn, our city deeply apologizes. I apologize," Mayor Jacob Frey said.
Frey said Chauvin should have been fired and held accountable in 2017.
RELATED: MPD settlement agreement approved, altering the future of policing in Minneapolis
"If the supervisors had done the right thing, George Floyd would not have been murdered," he said.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara also gave remarks, calling Chauvin a "national embarrassment" for the policing profession.
"The notion that we're dealing with the bad actions of one employee is false," O'Hara said. "We're dealing with the ugly consequences stemming from a systemic failure within the Minneapolis Police Department that has allowed for, and at times encouraged, unjust and brutal policing."
O'Hara said Chauvin's badge will be destroyed and no future officer in the police department will ever wear the same badge number.
More details from the lawsuits
Pope, who was 14 at the time of his arrest, said Chauvin struck him several times with a flashlight before restraining him. Chauvin then held Pope down in the prone position for 15 minutes, the lawsuit said.
In Code's arrest, the lawsuit alleges that Chauvin used his knee on her neck, and remained there for 4 minutes and 41 seconds. Another officer at the scene failed to intervene and the incident was captured on police body cameras, the lawsuit said.
Last May, Pope, Code and their lawyers held a press conference and showed images from Code's arrest.
The lawsuits further allege that two sergeants with MPD later approved Chauvin's use of force in these two incidents. Pope and Code's lawyers argue that, as a result, Chauvin was able to continue his unchecked use of excessive force when he encountered Floyd in 2020.
Code's arrest occurred on June 25, 2017 and Pope's arrest occurred on Sept. 5, 2017.
On Thursday afternoon, attorneys for Pope released an edited version of the body camera footage from his arrest.
Chauvin is currently serving a prison sentence of over 20 years for murdering Floyd during an arrest in May 2020. The City of Minneapolis settled with Floyd's family for $27 million.
Following the settlement, Pope told WCCO, "Wouldn't say [the incident's] behind me but it's one step closer, yeah."
Frey and O'Hara apologized to Pope and Code.
"I am appalled at the repetitive behavior of this coward and disgusted by the inaction and acceptance of the behavior by members of this agency," O'Hara said.
Pope says the city has to be serious about zero tolerance toward police misconduct.
Pope is now a student at Concordia University and working at a bank. He says he doesn't let what happened to him define him.
Katie Bennett, an attorney for Code, says what happened during the encounter with Chauvin continues to haunt Code.
Seven other officers were named in the lawsuits. Three of them still work for MPD.
