UPDATED: George Floyd Died Of A Drug Overdose
Most of us have known that since, well, since the death occurred. It's now pretty much official, now that previously undisclosed documents have been made available. Via Big League Politics (go there to see the image of the original):
Previously unseen documents released by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Tuesday reveal that a medical examiner who analyzed samples of George Floyd’s blood taken shortly after his death concluded that he died of a drug overdose.
A summary of a conversation between Amy Sweasy, a Hennepin County Attorney, and Dr. Andrew Baker, the chief medical examiner for the county , reveals that the former would conclude George Floyd died of a drug overdose if there were no other contributing factors.
The medical examiner makes the conclusion of an overdose death on the basis of blood samples collected from George Floyd at a Minneapolis hospital.
Dr. Baker reveals that Floyd’s blood tested positive for the presence of 4ANPP, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and norfentayl. He described the level of fentanyl found in George Floyd’s bloodstream as a “fatal level under normal circumstances.”
This revelation could potentially have significant implications for the upcoming second-degree murder trial of Derek Chauvin, and the criminal proceedings of the other Minneapolis Police Officers facing charges for their role in the infamous arrest of Floyd.
Bodycam footage of Floyd’s arrest show the 46-year old man acting in a seemingly delirious and excited manner, resisting arrest before being pinned to the street by Derek Chauvin.
I believe it's quite possible Floyd thought he was using heroin, but he had been given cheaper but far more powerful fentanyl. Whatever.
BTW, within the past week I read an article about Covid that explained that we--meaning, medical personnel--now have a far better understanding of how to treat Covid. Among other things mentioned in the article was that we now understand that Covid patients having trouble breathing should be placed on their stomachs, as that position allows them more easily to use their lungs to the full extent possible.
With that in mind, recall what Derek Chauvin said to the young cop who said he was worried that Floyd was undergoing excited delerium. Chauvin responded: That's why we have him on his stomach. Oh! Seems Chauvin knew exactly what he was doing in restraining Floyd on his stomach when Floyd claimed to have trouble breathing.
UPDATE: It's beginning to appear increasingly clear that the Hennepin County Medical Examiner succumbed to political pressure:
A May 26 memorandum filed after a meeting with the Attorney’s Office reveals that Chief Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker stated that “the autopsy revealed no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation.”
...
“[Dr. Andrew Baker] said that if Mr. Floyd had been found dead in his home (or anywhere else) and there were no other contributing factors he would conclude that it was an overdose death,” the June 1 memo said.
The lack of physical evidence suggesting asphyxiation--that lack being described in detail in the memo--is a direct statement that asphyxiation was not a contributing factor to Floyd's death.
Regardless, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ultimately concluded on June 1 that Floyd’s death was a homicide, saying, “His death was caused by the police subdual and restraint in the setting of severe hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and methamphetamine and fentanyl intoxication.”
Thomas Lane is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s Memorial Day death. In July, his attorney, Earl Gray, filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Lane, arguing there is not enough evidence to establish probable cause that the former rookie officer committed a crime.
“All he had to do is sit in the police car, like every other defendant who is initially arrested. While attempting to avoid his arrest, all by himself, Mr. Floyd overdosed on Fentanyl,” the court documents read. "Given his intoxication level, breathing would have been difficult at best. Mr. Floyd’s intentional failure to obey commands, coupled with his overdosing, contributed to his own death."
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report says toxicology testing found fentanyl and evidence of recent methamphetamine use in Floyd’s system. But the report ultimately ruled the death of George Floyd a homicide. The updated version of the medical examiner's report states that on May 25, George Floyd experienced a "cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officers."
The initial finding was death from overdose--specifically noting the lack of any medical evidence of asphyxiation. But then there was an "ultimate" finding.