Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin had agreed to a plea deal days after the May 25 death of George Floyd. But then-Attorney General William Barr shot down the agreement, according to a report from The New York Times.

Chauvin is one of four former Minneapolis officers facing charges related to Floyd's death. He faces the most serious charges – second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Cell phone recordings taken the night of Memorial Day show Chauvin holding Floyd down by placing his knee on the back of Floyd's neck.

Floyd's death sparked outrage across the country as protests erupted in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Three days after Floyd's death, Chauvin agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder but wanted assurance from the prosecutors they would not file federal civil rights charges.

Chauvin was to serve more than 10 years in federal prison under the agreement and local officials scheduled a news conference to announce it, hoping to quell the violent protests in the city.

Barr, however, shot down the plea bargain. He was reportedly worried the agreement would be seen by protesters as too lenient, coming so soon after Floyd's death. Barr also wanted to give state attorneys, who were taking over the case, the ability to make their own decisions on how to move forward.

Chauvin's trial is due to start March 8, and officials worry the proceedings will spark more violence in Minneapolis.

Office workers in the downtown area have been asked not to come to work during the trial due to heavy security. National Guard troops will be on patrol with military vehicles and armed checkpoints.

Chauvin's case is separate from the other three officers on the scene. They are charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin with their trial scheduled for August.

Prosecutors want Chauvin's trial delayed. They cited the risk of the trial becoming a COVID-19 superspreader due to the number of demonstrators expected.

Floyd died after police detained him for allegedly paying for cigarettes at a store with a counterfeit $20 bill.

"This is the most famous police brutality prosecution in the history of the United States," according to Paul Butler, a Georgetown University professor and former prosecutor. " A lot of the defense strategy will look like a trial of George Floyd's character."

Third-degree murder charges dismissed for former police officer Derek Chauvin, an arresting officer in the George Floyd case in Minneapolis.
Former police officer Derek Chauvin appeared by videolink in Minneapolis court for the murder of African American George Floyd, whose May 25 death sparked massive protests across the United States Hennepin County Jail / Handout
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