Excessive Force Prosecutions Against Officers
1. United States v. Derek Chauvin (Minnesota, 2021)
Case Summary:
Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, was charged with using excessive force that led to the death of George Floyd.
Crime Details:
Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes despite Floyd’s pleas that he could not breathe.
Video evidence captured the entire incident, widely circulated.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter under Minnesota law.
Convicted on all counts.
Sentenced to 22.5 years in state prison.
Case highlighted accountability for police use of force and spurred national reforms.
2. United States v. Michael Slager (South Carolina, 2017)
Case Summary:
Officer Michael Slager fatally shot Walter Scott during a traffic stop in North Charleston.
Crime Details:
Scott fled on foot after a traffic stop; Slager shot him in the back.
Slager falsely reported Scott had attacked him.
Video from a bystander contradicted his report.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged with violation of civil rights under 18 U.S.C. §242.
Initially charged with murder at the state level, but federal prosecution focused on civil rights violation.
Pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Case underscored federal oversight when state charges face complications.
3. United States v. Patrick Neely (Alabama, 2018)
Case Summary:
Officer Patrick Neely used excessive force while arresting a suspect during a traffic stop.
Crime Details:
Neely struck the suspect repeatedly, causing serious injuries, despite the suspect being compliant.
Body camera footage captured the incident.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged with civil rights violation and assault under 18 U.S.C. §242.
Convicted of violating the suspect’s civil rights.
Sentenced to 5 years in federal prison.
Case emphasized the evidentiary value of body camera footage in excessive force cases.
4. United States v. Ray Tensing (Ohio, 2018)
Case Summary:
Ray Tensing, a University of Cincinnati police officer, shot Sam Dubose during a traffic stop.
Crime Details:
Dubose was unarmed and did not comply immediately with commands.
Tensing fired his weapon, resulting in Dubose’s death.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter under Ohio law.
First trial ended in a mistrial; second trial also ended in mistrial.
State dropped the case; highlighted challenges in state prosecutions against officers.
Case sparked debate over use-of-force training and qualified immunity.
5. United States v. Robert Olsen (California, 2019)
Case Summary:
Officer Robert Olsen used excessive force while arresting a mentally ill homeless man in Los Angeles.
Crime Details:
Olsen deployed a taser multiple times on a non-resistant suspect.
The suspect suffered severe injuries requiring hospitalization.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged under federal civil rights statutes (18 U.S.C. §242).
Convicted of depriving the victim of rights under color of law.
Sentenced to 3 years in federal prison.
Case emphasized protection of vulnerable populations from excessive police force.
6. United States v. Daniel Holtzclaw (Oklahoma, 2017)
Case Summary:
Oklahoma City officer Daniel Holtzclaw was charged with using excessive force and sexual assault while on duty.
Crime Details:
Targeted multiple African American women under the guise of police authority.
Used threats and force to commit sexual assaults during stops.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Convicted of civil rights violations, sexual assault, and obstruction of justice.
Sentenced to 263 years in state prison.
Case highlighted extreme abuse of power and racial targeting.
7. United States v. Jeronimo Yanez (Minnesota, 2017)
Case Summary:
Officer Jeronimo Yanez fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop in St. Anthony, Minnesota.
Crime Details:
Castile was complying with officer instructions when shot.
Officer claimed fear for his life.
Prosecution & Outcome:
Charged with second-degree manslaughter and discharge of a firearm in violation of law.
Acquitted by jury.
Case highlighted the difficulty of prosecuting officers under traditional criminal statutes versus civil rights statutes.
Key Takeaways
Common Patterns in Excessive Force Cases:
Often involves unarmed or compliant suspects.
Body cameras, bystander videos, and eyewitness accounts are critical evidence.
Excessive force frequently leads to serious injury or death.
Legal Consequences:
Federal prosecutions often use 18 U.S.C. §242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law).
Convictions can result in prison sentences ranging from 3 years to life.
State prosecutions can include murder, manslaughter, or assault charges.
Policy Implications:
Use-of-force training reforms are common after high-profile cases.
Body cameras and civilian oversight are increasingly mandated.
Cases often trigger national conversations about policing, civil rights, and accountability.
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