Tou Thao release marks end of federal prison sentence
*Wow! We hate to say it, but former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao is scheduled to be released from federal custody this coming Monday, November 3. He has served nearly five and a half years for his role in the 2020 death of George Floyd. Thao was housed at a Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, during his incarceration.
His time served covers both his federal and state sentences, which ran concurrently. Thao will now enter a period of supervised release, though the specific terms have not been disclosed by officials.
What Tou Thao did during George Floyd’s final moments
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed during an arrest by Minneapolis police officers. Thao stood by as Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Instead of helping, Thao kept bystanders at bay and ignored Floyd’s visible medical distress.
Prosecutors described Thao’s behavior as “deliberate indifference” to Floyd’s suffering. His lack of action played a significant role in the federal civil rights case that followed.
Tou Thao’s federal and state convictions explained
In 2022, Thao was found guilty of violating George Floyd’s civil rights under color of law. He received a federal sentence of three years and eight months for this conviction…