Tou Thao, the former Minneapolis police officer who gained worldwide infamy for his role in holding back a crowd of bystanders during George Floyd’s arrest in May 2020, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison on Monday for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
Thao’s involvement in the second-degree manslaughter of George Floyd was confirmed earlier in May. He was previously sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in a federal case for violating Floyd’s civil rights during the arrest, a term he will serve concurrently with his state sentence.
According to a report by the news outlet The New York Times, Thao offered a brief statement about his actions leading to Floyd’s death prior to his sentencing.
“Obviously, on that day, we didn’t intend on – I didn’t intend on doing any malice or anything like that, or try to hurt anyone. That was never my intent. I did the best I thought I could. Obviously the outcome didn’t come out the way I wanted it, so I’ll leave it at that,” Thao said.
Hennepin County Judge Peter A. Cahill expressed his disappointment in Thao’s lack of remorse during the sentencing proceedings, saying, “Mr. Thao, to be perfectly honest, after three years of reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility and less preaching.”
“Suffice it to say that I think your culpability is less than Mr. [Derek] Chauvin, but well above Mr. [Alexander] Kueng and Mr. [Thomas] Lane, as an experienced senior officer who was in the best position to save George Floyd. Accordingly, it’s my belief that a sentence at the top of the [sentencing] range would be condign punishment,” Judge Cahill continued.
Thao had no visible emotional response to the Judge’s observation. When asked if he had any questions, he simply replied, “No, God bless you sir.” He was granted credit for the 340 days he had already served.
The incident that led to Floyd’s death occurred on May 25, 2020, when Minneapolis police arrested the 46-year-old Black male following reports of his alleged use of a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd was restrained for over nine minutes, with Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee onto his neck. Thao, along with other officers, prevented concerned bystanders, including an off-duty firefighter, from intervening.
Floyd’s death, captured on video by witnesses, sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. The incident catalysed a global movement for racial justice.
In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, the Minneapolis Police Department terminated all four officers involved. Thao, along with his colleagues Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng, faced criminal charges and subsequent convictions. Each received prison sentences, with Chauvin receiving the longest term of over 20 years in both federal and state custody.
During the arrest, Thao was captured on video restraining bystanders and discouraging them from assisting Floyd, even as Floyd pleaded for help. As Floyd gasped for air and called for his mother, Thao kept on mocking him for his assumed drug usage.
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