The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd posted bail on Wednesday and was released from prison.
According to court documents, Derek Chauvin posted $1 million bond, and the Department of Corrections confirmed he was no longer in custody at the state’s facility in Oak Park Heights, where he had been detained. Hennepin County jail records show he was released shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world. Chauvin and three other officers were fired.
Rock legend Eddie Van Halen, 65, died Tuesday.
A person close to Van Halen’s family confirmed the rocker died Tuesday due to cancer.
Van Halen was known for his famous guitar solos, including his singles “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Eruption,” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
Former St. Thomas football player and coach Mark Dowdle completed a 160-mile run in 43 hours from the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, Minnesota to St. Thomas’ O’Shaughnessy Stadium Sunday, with former teammate Blake Weber joining him for the final 58 miles, in an effort to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
Laurie Weber, Blake Weber’s mother, died in August after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dowdle organized the Laurie Weber Legacy Fund, where he has raised more than $8,500 on GoFundMe since July 17.
Emily Weber, Blake Weber’s sister, noted that Dowdle has been connected to her family for many years.
“He’s a pretty good friend,” Emily Weber said. “They played football together here so that’s how they met, and Mark has spent a few Thanksgivings with our family because he’s not from around here.”
Friends and family gathered at the stadium to congratulate Dowdle, and some joined him for a celebratory lap around the track.
Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.
Logan Bahr contributed to this report.