Demonstrators outside a court hearing last month for the former Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd assaulted an attorney and defendant and damaged a car, according to a new court filing.
Protesters assaulted former officer charged in George Floyd's killing and defense attorney, court filing alleges
Attorney Thomas Plunkett said the former officers' trial must be moved out of the county for their safety.
![Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane was screamed at by protesters as he walked to a car from the Hennepin County Family Justice Center following a hearing on several pending motions in the cases against four former officers in the killing of George Floyd. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com A judge heard oral arguments on several pending motions in the cases against four former officers in the killing of George Floyd, including motions to dismiss the cases, Friday, Sept](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ARQZWQZA4UDVCC6RZK3NKSY4Q4.jpg?&w=712)
Attorney Thomas Plunkett, who is representing former officer J. Alexander Kueng, filed a memorandum Thursday outlining the allegations as additional evidence that the former officers' trials should be moved out of Hennepin County.
"Attorneys and Defendants were harassed upon arrival and departure from the courthouse," Plunkett wrote. "The riot following the September 11th hearing shows that it is not safe for the participants if the trial is held in Hennepin County."
Plunkett and attorneys for the other defendants — Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — each previously filed motions for a change of venue, arguing that news coverage of Floyd's May 25 death has tainted the local jury pool. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who is overseeing the case, has not ruled on the matter.
Plunkett argued in his supplemental filing Monday that "violent rioters" threatened the defendants and attorneys as they walked from the courthouse after the hearing. All four defendants were in attendance.
According to Plunkett's filing: A protester punched and grabbed Lane's attorney, Earl Gray; protesters blocked Lane as he walked on the street; Lane was physically assaulted and someone caused $2,000 in damage to Plunkett's car.
Gray could not be reached for comment.
Thao and his attorney, Robert Paule, were followed for several blocks by "jeering protesters," Plunkett added.
"No recognizable plan was in place in advance of the hearing to assure the safe and orderly entry" of the defendants and their lawyers into the courthouse, Plunkett wrote. "Mr. Chauvin, who is in custody, was subjected to a degree of humiliation by being paraded in public dressed in jail clothes and body armor."
Chauvin is being held at a state prison and was transported to downtown Minneapolis. Sheriff's deputies escorted him from a parking lot, which was fenced off but visible, to a back entrance.
One person smashed their bike into Plunkett's car, according to a Minneapolis police report Plunkett included with his filing. Plunkett also included still images of the scene that were recorded by the media organization Unicorn Riot.
Related Coverage
Plunkett drove off in a car with Kueng, Gray and Lane as several dozen protesters followed them and surrounded the vehicle.
![Former Minneapolis police officer J. Alexander Kueng was screamed at by protesters as he walked to a car with fellow former officer Thomas Lane from Friday's hearing.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/V7W2QPUBLZ27Y3XNBTVZ6IOBKE.jpg?&w=712)
Watch some of the best plays from NSPN.tv’s coverage of games from across the state.