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Derek Chauvin posts $1M bail, Internet angry cop charged in George Floyd death is free with protesters in jail

Chauvin has reportedly been released from the Oak Park Heights Correctional Facility, east of Minneapolis, as per the Hennepin County Jail roster

On Wednesday, October 7, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer facing murder charges in George Floyd's death, posted a bond of $1 million as bail, as per court records. Chauvin has reportedly been released from the Oak Park Heights Correctional Facility, east of Minneapolis, as per the Hennepin County Jail roster. He is the last of the four officers -- J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao -- currently facing charges connected to Floyd’s death to have been released from custody. "I can confirm he is no longer in our custody," said Sarah Fitzgerald, spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

As per reports, Chauvin's release was conditional. CBS reported that Chauvin can’t leave the state without written court approval, he’s to have no contact with Floyd’s family, he must remain law-abiding, and make future court appearances. His next court date is set for March 8, according to a notice of appearance.

The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which maintains a legal defense fund, did not put up the money, a spokesman told CNN. According to state court records, Chauvin posted a non-cash bond guaranteed by Allegheny Casualty. Rachel Moran, associate professor at St. Thomas School of Law, told CBS, “He’s financially responsible for a small portion of it. They are the surety that’s on the hook if he were to violate it. He used a company out of Brainerd that appears to have gotten assurity from a bond insurance company in California. So it’s that bond insurance company in California that’s actually funding this and is on this hook if Chauvin were to somehow violate conditions of the bond.”

Chauvin faces counts of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death. Video of the incident that took place on May 25 captured Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost eight minutes as Floyd told him and three other officers he couldn't breathe. The other three ex-policemen are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Following his release, Ben Crump, the attorney for the Floyd family, tweeted, “Derek Chauvin posted a $1M bail today – buying his freedom after robbing George Floyd of his life over $20. His release on bond is a painful reminder to George’s family that we are still far from achieving justice.”

Crump wasn’t the only one expressing anger on social media. Many took to Twitter to express their rage at the injustice of Chauvin being released on bail. “Derek Chauvin is the monster that kept his neck on George Floyd's neck for 9 minutes, and he just posted $1M bond so he's walking around free while George Floyd is dead. Where is the f***ing justice?” asked a Twitter user. NBC journalist Glenn Kirschner said, “George Floyd’s murderer, Derek Chauvin, has been released on $1,000,000 bail. The racial-inequality hole out of which we must dig beginning in January cannot possibly get any deeper.” Another Twitter user noted, “At this moment, in multiple cities across the country, people who have protested police murder and brutality sit in jail. And Derek Chauvin walks free. No justice, no peace.”

“You are telling me Derek Chauvin who literally murdered George Floyd by a knee on his neck knowing it was killing him is released from prison, yet Black are people locked for 20+ years for doing drugs. get out of here. No, seriously they don’t care about us Black people. Never have,” said a Twitter user. Another Twitter user said, “Derek Chauvin is a murderer and a cop. He is not a husband, son, a man who loves hot dogs, or whatever the f*** people try to use to humanize him. He is a murderer who utilized his position as a cop to kill an innocent Black man and he deserved to be in jail for eternity.” The unofficial account for the hacktivist group Anonymous wrote on Twitter, “Murderer Derek Chauvin and other former police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd are free from jail. Will await their trial. F*** the system. F*** the US justice system.”