A photograph of George Floyd is displayed at memorial exhibit at Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade on July 20, 2021, in San Diego. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded not guilty on Thursday to violating the civil rights of a teenager in a 2017 case that involved a restraint similar to the one used in the murder of George Floyd, AP reports.
The big picture: Chauvin was found guilty in April for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death and was sentenced to 22.5 years.
- Derek Chauvin and three other former Minneapolis police officers were accused of violating Floyd's civil rights when they handcuffed him and pinned his face to the ground.
- Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges in the Floyd case on Tuesday.
Driving the news: Chauvin allegedly violated the civil rights of a then-14-year-old boy in 2017, when he allegedly "held the teen by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boy’s neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting," AP reports.
- Chauvin appeared via videoconference in Thursday's hearing and, when asked by U.S. Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer how he would plead to the charge, he said: "Not guilty, your honor."
Go deeper: Ex-officers accused of violating George Floyd's rights plead not guilty