George Floyd Update: Suspect Derek Chauvin Transferred To State Maximum-Security Prison

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police officer who is charged with third-degree manslaughter for the death of George Floyd, has been transferred to one of the country's most secure prison.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell confirmed to ABC News that the suspect is now under the custody of Oak Park Heights Prison. The transfer was made late Sunday after the transfer was requested by Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchison over his “concerns” on the number of people “who could possibly” be detained into Hennepin County Jail, as well as growing issues regarding COVID-19.

Oak Park Heights Prison is Minnesota's only Level Five security facility with roughly 400 prisoners under its watch. According to recent data released by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Oak Park Heights Prison houses 297 murderers, 69 rapists and 8 kidnappers.

About 46% of the prison population is African American and is notorious for being one of the country's safest prison facilities. It never reported an escape and only had one homicide case in its history, said Meaww.

Schnell said Chauvin was initially held at Ramsey County Adult Detention Center in St. Paul prior to his “high-profile” transfer. He spent the weekend in solitary confinement with “high security,” including SWAT teams with binoculars and rifles standing guard from the rooftop of the facility, added the outlet.

A source also told TMZ that Chauvin was being constantly watched through an installed camera in his cell. Guards monitored the feed 24/7 and the suspect was being “checked on in-person every 15 minutes.”

The 19-year police veteran was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter for pressing his knee on George Floyd's neck, resulting in his death.

Prosecutors said in a criminal complaint filed late Friday that Chauvin “had his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Two minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Mr. Floyd was 'non-responsive',” reported CBS News.

Benjamin Crump, the legal counsel of Floyd's family, believed that Chauvin should have been charged with first-degree murder because of his “intent” based on how long he held his knee on Floyd's neck who was “begging and pleading for breath.”

“George Floyd died because of the knee being shoved into his neck, and he could not breathe,” said Fox News, citing Crump's statement in an interview.