Houston Police Chief Urges A Close Look Into The History Between George Floyd And Derek Chauvin

Houston’s police chief has said that investigators should look into the history between George Floyd, the black man who died in Minneapolis police custody, and Derek Chauvin.

Chauvin, the cop slapped with second-degree murder and manslaughter charges over the killing of Floyd, was taken under arrest and charged with his death on May 29. Chief Art Acevedo thinks probing this angle could affect the charges and the trial when it comes.

In an interview with “Your World” on Fox News, the police chief said that he has a “feeling” that there’s deeper conflict between Floyd, who grew up in Houston, and Chauvin. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide outrage and protests against police brutality and racism.

“I know if it was in my city, I would be investigating very closely the relationship with Mr. Floyd and the officer that had that knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds,” Chief Acevedo said.

“We may find some kind of conflict that may have led to this individual doing what he did with an abandoned heart and with malice in his heart,” Acevedo told host Neil Cavuto. “I think [this] will have an impact on the type of charges and the impact on the trial moving forward.”

Floyd and Chauvin, used as security guards at the El Nuevo Rodeo nightclub until the end of 2019, had overlapping shifts. David Pinney, a former co-worker, told CBS Evening News that they often “bumped heads,” with Chauvin often being the aggressor. Pinney also said that both men knew each other “pretty well” even before Floyd’s arrest by Chauvin on May 25 for using counterfeit money for his cigarette purchase. They found the bill not to be a counterfeit later.

Club owner Maya Santamaria confirmed that Floyd and Chauvin worked for her and believes that Chauvin felt “afraid and intimidated” by African Americans.

The Floyd family also thinks his killing was personal, per CBS News. Together with their lawyers, they want Chauvin charged for first-degree murder. Right now Chauvin has been charges with second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Meanwhile, George’s younger brother Philonise Floyd testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday (June 10). He said that while he doesn’t have the power to save his elder brother, he’s now speaking up so his death “would not be in vain.”

“Justice has to be served,” Philonise said. “George called for help and he was ignored. Please listen to the call I’m making to you now, to the calls of our family, and the calls ringing out in the streets across the world.”

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress agree that racism and police abuse needs immediate addressing. The Democrats have drafted their own proposals for police reforms, which will come up for a vote on June 25. The GOP is also drafting an alternative proposal.