The city of Minneapolis has agreed to a $600,000 settlement with Patty Day, a former Public Works Department employee, who accused ex-Officer Derek Chauvin of using excessive force during a January 2020 arrest. Day claimed that Chauvin, who would later murder George Floyd using similar tactics, “violently yanked” her from her minivan and pinned her to the ground with his knee, even after she was subdued and handcuffed.
Day admitted she was intoxicated and distressed over personal issues when her vehicle became stuck in the snow on January 17, 2020. Chauvin and Officer Ellen Jensen arrived at the scene, and according to Day’s lawsuit, forcibly removed her from the car and threw her to the pavement, causing multiple injuries. The complaint alleged, “Chauvin then assumed his signature pose, pressing his knee into the subdued and handcuffed Patty’s back—just as he would later do to snuff the life out of George Floyd—and remaining that way well after Patty was controlled.” A DUI charge against Day was later dropped when a judge ruled there was no probable cause for her arrest and suppressed the blood alcohol test evidence.
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the settlement, allocating $175,000 to Day and $425,000 to her attorneys. Day’s lawyer, Katie Bennett, stated, “While no settlement can undo what Patty endured, we are grateful to have reached an agreement that holds the officers accountable for their actions.” Bennett emphasized the broader implications of the case, calling it “yet another example of the critical need for justice and reform in policing.”
This settlement adds to the over $36 million Minneapolis has paid in cases involving Chauvin, including the $27 million awarded to George Floyd’s family. Chauvin, who is currently serving time in a Texas federal prison, was convicted in state court for Floyd’s murder and in federal court for violating Floyd’s civil rights. Floyd’s death triggered a nationwide reckoning with racial injustice and police brutality.
Link: AP News
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