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Four Minneapolis policemen fired after death of unarmed black man

Four Minnesota police officers have been fired after the death of a black man who was taken into custody and seen on video being pinned down by his neck. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said the four officers were now “former employees”. Footage shows the man, George Floyd, groaning and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe” to the white officer. The incident echoed that of Eric Garner, a black man who died being arrested in New York City in 2014.

The FBI has said it will investigate the Minneapolis incident, which took place on Monday evening. Minnesota police said 46-year-old Mr Floyd, who had worked providing security at a restaurant, died after a “medical incident” in a “police interaction”.

Four Minnesota police officers have been fired after the death of a black man who was taken into custody and seen on video being pinned down by his neck. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said the four officers were now "former employees". Footage shows the man, George Floyd, groaning and repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" to the white officer. The incident echoed that of Eric Garner, a black man who died being arrested in New York City in 2014. The FBI has said it will investigate the Minneapolis incident, which took place on Monday evening. Minnesota police said 46-year-old Mr Floyd, who had worked providing security at a restaurant, died after a "medical incident" in a "police interaction". On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the four officers involved in the incident had been "terminated". At a press conference earlier, Mr Frey had described the incident as "completely and utterly messed up". "I believe what I saw and what I saw is wrong on every level," he said. "Being black in America should not be a death sentence. It is the latest accusation of US police brutality against African Americans. Recent high-profile cases include an officer in Maryland who fatally shot a man inside a patrol car. The incident in Minneapolis began with a report of a customer attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. The officers located the suspect in his car, police said in a statement. They were told the man, who has not been identified, was "sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence". After being ordered to step away from the vehicle, the man physically resisted officers, according to police. "Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress," the statement added. In the 10-minute video filmed by a witness, the man is kept on the ground by the officer and, at one point, says: "Don't kill me. Witnesses urged the officer to take his knee off the man's neck, noting that he was not moving. One says, "His nose is bleeding", while another pleads, "Get off his neck." The man then appears motionless before he is put on a stretcher and into an ambulance. In other news - Twitter does not wish to have a Mother like Mantuli #SkeemSaam Imagine your mother inviting your ex-girlfriend to come live in your house, without consulting you or caring in the slightest about how it will affect your already “teka teking” relationship. That is exactly what Mantuli did and fans of the soapie couldn’t believe it! Read more Source: BBC

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the four officers involved in the incident had been “terminated”. At a press conference earlier, Mr Frey had described the incident as “completely and utterly messed up”.

“I believe what I saw and what I saw is wrong on every level,” he said. “Being black in America should not be a death sentence. It is the latest accusation of US police brutality against African Americans. Recent high-profile cases include an officer in Maryland who fatally shot a man inside a patrol car.

George Floyd

The incident in Minneapolis began with a report of a customer attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. The officers located the suspect in his car, police said in a statement. They were told the man, who has not been identified, was “sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence”.

After being ordered to step away from the vehicle, the man physically resisted officers, according to police. “Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress,” the statement added. In the 10-minute video filmed by a witness, the man is kept on the ground by the officer and, at one point, says: “Don’t kill me.

Witnesses urged the officer to take his knee off the man’s neck, noting that he was not moving. One says, “His nose is bleeding”, while another pleads, “Get off his neck.” The man then appears motionless before he is put on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

In other news – Twitter does not wish to have a Mother like Mantuli #SkeemSaam

Imagine your mother inviting your ex-girlfriend to come live in your house, without consulting you or caring in the slightest about how it will affect your already “teka teking” relationship. That is exactly what Mantuli did and fans of the soapie couldn’t believe it! Read more

Source: BBC