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Tou Thao
Former Minneapolis Police Officer
Officer who blocked bystanders during George Floyd murder; convicted of aiding and abetting manslaughter and federal civil rights violations
Overview
Tou Thao was a Minneapolis police officer who stood guard and physically blocked concerned bystanders from intervening while Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd on May 25, 2020. As bystanders begged him to check Floyd pulse and pleaded for Chauvin to stop, Thao told them to get back on the sidewalk. He was the most experienced officer on scene besides Chauvin, with approximately 8 years on the force. Thao had 6 prior complaints filed against him, including a 2017 excessive force lawsuit that the City of Minneapolis settled for $25,000. He was convicted of federal civil rights violations in February 2022 and found guilty of state aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in May 2023 after rejecting a plea deal and choosing an evidentiary trial before Judge Peter Cahill. He was the last of the four officers to be convicted, receiving the maximum state sentence of 4.75 years.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
BLOCKED BYSTANDERS DURING MURDER: Thao physically prevented horrified bystanders from intervening as Chauvin knelt on Floyd neck. Witnesses, including an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter who identified herself and offered to check Floyd pulse, begged Thao to help. He told them to stay on the sidewalk and did not intervene even as Floyd went limp and silent.
PRIOR EXCESSIVE FORCE: In 2017, Lamar Ferguson sued Thao and another officer for excessive force after they allegedly punched, kicked, and kneed him during a traffic stop while he was handcuffed. The City of Minneapolis settled the lawsuit for $25,000. Ferguson alleged Thao broke his teeth during the arrest.
SIX PRIOR COMPLAINTS: Thao accumulated 6 complaints during his approximately 8 years with MPD. The nature of the other complaints and any discipline received have not been fully disclosed, consistent with MPD pattern of shielding officer records from public scrutiny.
REJECTED PLEA DEAL: Unlike Kueng and Lane, who accepted plea deals to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, Thao rejected the agreement and opted for an evidentiary trial (bench trial). Judge Peter Cahill found him guilty on May 2, 2023 and sentenced him to the maximum 4.75 years, more than either Kueng or Lane received.
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CONVICTION: A federal jury convicted Thao on February 24, 2022 of both failing to intervene to stop Chauvin unreasonable use of force and failing to provide Floyd with medical care. Kueng was convicted on the same two counts. Lane was convicted only of the medical care count.
DUTY TO INTERVENE: MPD policy required officers to intervene when witnessing another officer using excessive force. Thao was the most senior officer at the scene after Chauvin and had the clearest obligation and opportunity to stop the murder. His failure to act became central to the prosecution case.
CONTINUED TO DEFEND ACTIONS: During proceedings, Thao maintained his actions were consistent with training. His evidentiary trial defense argued he was focused on crowd control and did not realize the danger Floyd was in, contradicted by bystander testimony and video evidence showing multiple witnesses pleading with him about Floyd condition.
RELEASED FROM PRISON: Thao was released from custody in November 2025 after completing his sentence, making him the last of the four officers to be freed.
Related Investigations (2)
Criminal Charges & Violations
3 documented violations
Minn. Stat. SS 609.205 / 609.05Aiding and Abetting Second-Degree Manslaughter, found guilty in evidentiary trial before Judge Peter Cahill on May 2, 2023; sentenced to maximum 4.75 years(Violent Crime)
18 U.S.C. SS 242Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, Failure to Intervene: convicted by federal jury February 24, 2022 for failing to stop Chauvin unreasonable force; sentenced to 3.5 years(Federal Crime)
18 U.S.C. SS 242Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, Failure to Provide Medical Care: convicted by federal jury February 24, 2022 for failing to render medical aid to Floyd; sentenced concurrently(Federal Crime)
Known Associates & Connections
Derek Chauvin
Senior officer who murdered George Floyd; Thao blocked bystanders while Chauvin knelt on Floyd neck for 9 minutes 29 seconds
J. Alexander Kueng
Fellow officer at scene who knelt on Floyd back; both convicted federally and in state court
Thomas Lane
Fellow officer at scene who held Floyd legs; both convicted federally and in state court
Sources & Documentation
4 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- 1985
- Birthplace
- Minnesota
Education
Key Timeline
2012
Joins Minneapolis Police Department as patrol officer
2017
Lamar Ferguson sues Thao and another officer for excessive force during a traffic stop; City of Minneapolis settles for $25,000
May 25, 2020
Present at George Floyd murder; blocks bystanders from intervening while Chauvin kneels on Floyd neck for 9 minutes 29 seconds
May 26, 2020
Fired by Minneapolis Police Department along with Chauvin, Kueng, and Lane
June 3, 2020
Charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
May 7, 2021
Federal grand jury indicts Thao, Kueng, and Lane on civil rights violations; charged with failing to intervene and failing to provide medical care
January 20, 2022
Federal civil rights trial begins in Saint Paul, Minnesota
February 24, 2022
Federal jury convicts Thao on all counts, failure to intervene and failure to provide medical care during Floyd murder
July 2022
Sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for civil rights violations
October 2022
Rejects state plea deal accepted by Kueng; chooses evidentiary trial before Judge Cahill
May 2, 2023
Found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in state evidentiary trial; sentenced to maximum 4.75 years
August 2023
Federal appeal denied by 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
November 2025
Released from prison after serving sentence; last of four officers to be freed