• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Chauvin Trial: Prosecutors seek to mitigate the official autopsy

MPD Training vs George Floyd Incident
April 5, 2021
Robert JohnsonbyRobert Johnson
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

Minneapolis, Minn. — If you’ve paid any attention to the first week of testimony during the trial of Derek Chauvin, It’s hard to not see some glaring problems for the prosecution. The evidence pouring out each day like a firehose is quite different from the propaganda that the media and officials have been feeding to the public over the last several months. And the difference in what the public has been told—and the actual truth—poses a significant problem for the prosecution and for the prejudiced expectations of “justice” among the general public.

Yet the most damaging evidence so far seems to be the official autopsy conducted by Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Baker. Specifically, the autopsy did not conclude that Floyd died from asphyxiation. Instead, it found “cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s)” as the cause of death. And even state’s criminal complaint against Chauvin stated that the autopsy “revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation. Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease.”

In the opening statement, the prosecutor showed his hand and revealed how the state plans to effectively convince the jury to ignore this medical evidence. Special prosecutor Jerry Blackwell admitted to jurors that Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker pointed to cardiac arrest as Floyd’s cause of death. However, Blackwell insisted the state would prove that Floyd’s death was somehow—beyond any reasonable doubt—“… not a fatal heart event,” but asphyxiation.

Baker conducted the only full autopsy. And his expert opinion defies what the prosecution must prove for a conviction. More importantly, it is important to note that in many ways, the prosecutor is telling the jury to ignore the medical examiner’s testimony—while demanding that they listen to various “experts” the prosecution plans to call instead. Never mind a confused legal strategy, this is a risky maneuver of common sense especially considering how the preponderance of evidence in a criminal trial is “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”

And while many people are already demanding a “guilty” verdict and making threats if there isn’t one, there are some key pieces of evidence that must be mitigated to establish Chauvin’s guilt—beyond a reasonable doubt:

  1. Andrew Baker, Hennepin County’s chief medical examiner, strongly suggested that the primary cause was a huge amount of fentanyl in Floyd’s system: “Fentanyl at 11 ng/ml — this is higher than (a) chronic pain patient. If he were found dead at home alone & no other apparent causes, this could be acceptable to call an OD (overdose). Deaths have been certified w/levels of 3.” Baker also told investigators that the autopsy revealed no physical evidence suggesting Floyd died of asphyxiation.
  2. The toxicology report on Floyd’s blood also noted that “in fatalities from fentanyl, blood concentrations are variable and have been reported as low as 3 ng/ml.” Floyd had almost four times the level of fentanyl considered potentially lethal.
  3. Floyd notably repeatedly said that he could not breathe while sitting in the police cruiser—before he was ever restrained on the ground. That is consistent with the level of fentanyl in his system that can cause “slowed or stopped breathing.”
  4. Floyd’s lungs were two to three times the normal size and filled with fluid. “Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs”  and it is symptomatic of an opioid overdose, according to Mayo Clinic. However, it should be noted that the Mayo Clinic report also addresses “Non-heart-related (non cardiogenic) pulmonary edema” and “Negative pressure pulmonary edema,”  which could be used to support the prosecution’s theory.
  5. The restraint that Chauvin used was an approved policy and training protocol with the Minneapolis Police Department. The defense will call trainers and experts that will testify to this. The jurors will be given the policy enacted at the time that clearly states this and they will watch video that shows this technique being given to MPD officers.

Further, Baker, the medical examiner, met last December with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. Baker specifically noted that the knee restraint was not likely to produce asphyxiation:  “[I]t appeared to Dr. Baker that the pressure to the neck was coming from the back or posterior lateral portions of the back, and none of these strictures would impact breathing or cause loss of consciousness,” as indicated in a documented summary of the meeting.  He noted a study that found that placing 200 pounds of weight or more on a healthy person did not have an “observable impact on breathing.”

Baker also cited the drugs in Floyd’s system as well as the 75-80% narrowing of coronary arteries that “put him at risk for a sudden cardiac arrest.”

The record of the meeting states “Dr. Baker offered that one possibility for the pathway of Floyd’s death is that Floyd’s heart was starting to fail because of the stress, drugs, enlarged heart, and [heart] disease… He said that once the heart starts to fail … one of the symptoms is the perception that you cannot breathe.”

Unfortunately, in a world of mob rule and cancel culture, Baker has already paid a price for his honesty. After the notes of that meeting became public, he needed protective security due to threats made against him.

Indeed, the prosecution has a real problem with the Medical Examiner Andrew Baker, his findings, and his testimony.

As Jason Simoneau, a long-time homicide detective, explained, “medical examiners are political, but they will never lie in court.”

Baker is not lying. And that presents all sorts of problems for the prosecution and plenty of reasonable doubt.

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: DCGFTDerek ChauvinGeorge FloydMinneapolisMinnesota
Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a 25 year veteran law enforcement officer currently working at a large metropolitan agency on the east coast. His assignments have included patrol, narcotics, gangs and training. He joined Law Officer in 2017 as a contributing author.

Related Posts

Joseph Steven Jorgenson

Minnesota man confesses to killing, dismembering two girlfriends in two years

January 4, 2025
Anthony Nephew

Duluth man kills 2 sons, wife, and ex before killing himself

November 11, 2024
John Herbert Sawchak

‘Neighbor from Hell’ charged with attempted murder in Minneapolis shooting

October 28, 2024
We the People

Alpha News releases new must-see documentary, ‘Minnesota v. We the People’

October 17, 2024
Ranger Kevin Grossheim

National Park ranger dies during family rescue

October 8, 2024
Joshua Anthony Jones

Felon charged in Minneapolis shooting spree that killed two, injured two last month

October 6, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

Reaffirming the Fourth Amendment: Barnes v. Felix

May 15, 2025
Brad Lunsford

Wife of convicted officer fights for his freedom—and a new trial

March 21, 2025
David Brinson

Four-time convicted murderer now accused of strangling wife to death during conjugal prison visit

March 21, 2025
TV sets

Illinois Bill Would Legalize Attacking Law Enforcement

March 12, 2025

Report: President Biden Did Not Actually Sign Most Documents

March 9, 2025

14 Year Old Ambushes, Murders Newark Police Officer

March 8, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com