'We’re Disgusted': CT State Police Condemns George Floyd Killing

NEW HAVEN, CT — After a weekend in which protesters blocked highways in Connecticut while demanding consequences for the death of George Floyd, the Connecticut State Police — whose troopers arrested three protesters who participated in those highway shutdowns — came out Monday with a statement that Floyd's killing was "indefensible."

"A week ago today, a death occurred in Minneapolis," the CHP statement began. "We in law enforcement are not unfamiliar with death, we see it often in many different forms; but the death of George Floyd was different. The indefensible circumstances of this act were carried out in broad daylight, in the middle of a public street by an individual wearing a badge."

On May 25, a bystander filmed Floyd as he passed out beneath the knee of white Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who crushed his knee against Floyd's neck even after the suspect was unconscious. Floyd, who was unarmed and under arrest on suspicion of passing counterfeit money, had no pulse when he was placed in ambulance at the scene.

Chauvin was fired (along with three other officers at the scene) and is now facing charges for third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

"It was very apparent that this individual used completely unnecessary, unjustifiable force against someone in handcuffs," the CHP statement continued. "We saw what you saw. We watched in disbelief as that individual calling himself a police officer kept his knee on the neck of a human being for almost nine minutes. Why? We’re not trained to do this in our police academies. There was no immediate threat. Those police officers on scene, including those that stood around and did nothing, simply failed. They failed not just on a law enforcement level, but on a basic human level. We are sad, we are angry and we are disgusted."

Over the weekend, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Connecticut. On Saturday, CHP arrested two demonstrators who had joined a crowd of 150 people that blocked Route 8 in Bridgeport in both directions for several hours.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, troopers responding to a large protest that blocked Route 34 arrested a 37-year-old New Haven man, Nuquen Davis, who lingered after the crowd dispersed, according to an incident summary. Davis was arrested and charged with Reckless Use of a Highway by a Pedestrian, Breach of Peace 2nd, 53a-181, Interfering with an Officer, and Littering. His bond was set at $2,500.

See also:

• Thousands Protest In CT Over Death Of George Floyd: Live Updates
• After Protests, Molotov Cocktail Hits New Haven Police Substation
• Lamont Clarifies Coronavirus Testing, Talks Racial Justice Issues

Read the CHP's full statement on Floyd's death below: