Former MPD Officer Thao Tou sentenced for role in George Floyd Death

The mugshot of former MPD Officer Tou Thau. (Courtesy of the City of Minneapolis)

Tou Thao, one of the four officers involved in George Floyd’s death, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for his role in the murder.

The sentence, which is more than the 51 months sought by prosecutors, was administered by Judge Peter Cahill, the same judge who oversaw the trial of Derek Chauvin. Cahill said he was frustrated with Thao’s remarks during the trial, saying “I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility. And less preaching.”

Thao was responsible for pushing a crowd of onlookers away from where Derek Chauvin, Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane kneeled on Floyd’s body, with Chauvin on his neck. Floyd died at the scene due to asphyxiation.

Thao is currently serving a three-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The court ordered his sentence and this one to be served concurrently. Lane and Kueng are both serving 36 and 42 month sentences respectively.