Ex-Minneapolis police officer sentenced to 2.5 years in connection with fatal Floyd arrest

Lane had been on the job for only four days when the arrest occurred in May 2020
Thomas Lane
By Just the News staff

One of the three former Minneapolis police officers convicted in February of violating George Floyd's civil rights during his May 2020 arrest was sentenced Thursday to 2.5 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors asked Judge Paul A. Magnuson to sentence ex-Officer Thomas Lane to 5.25 years to 6.5 years for his role in the fatal restraint of Floyd on a Minneapolis street over two years ago, according to CNN. 

Magnuson said Lane, who was on the job for only four days when the arrest occurred, had a "minimal role" in the incident and that he is a person of "outstanding character," as made clear by the 145 letters he received in his support.

    Former Minneapolis police officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng faced state and federal charges over their involvement in the arrest, as colleague Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck and back, CNN also reports.

    Floyd died on his way to a hospital after the arrest.

    Lane testified that he asked Chauvin twice to reposition Floyd while restraining him.

    He declined Thursday to make a statement in court.

    Lane, Thao and Kueng were each convicted of violating Floyd's rights during the fatal restraint.

    Thao and Kueng were also found guilty of an additional federal charge earlier this year for failing to intervene to stop Chauvin. A sentencing date for Thou and Kueng has not been set.

    Lane has already pleaded guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter last month.

    As part of the plea deal, Lane's sentence on the state charge will run concurrent with his federal sentence, and he will serve his time in a federal institution.

    Thou and Kueng also face a state trial that is set for this fall on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. They have pleaded not guilty.

    Chauvin was convicted last year of murder and manslaughter in a state trial and was sentenced to over 22 years in prison.

    He pleaded guilty last year to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years in prison, also according to CNN.