A Summary of the trial - Week 2 Day 2 cont'd...
Final witness was Sergeant Jody Stiger, of the Los Angeles Police Department, who has been retained by the state prosecutors as an expert witness on use-of-force tactics and policy. He stated that he was on vacation.
Prosecutor Schleicher as per usual explored the various experiences of the witness with LAPD including his knowledge of use of force in police arrests. He also served in the department's Safer Cities initiative. Stated that he was a tactics instructor for six years and had travelled to other police departments and agencies within the US to compare use of force tactics.
Asked about his presence as an expert witness in the death of George Floyd, stated that he had viewed all the videos and training materials provided by the prosecution. Schleicher asked if he had reached an opinion and what factors he had taken into account. Stiger opined that the force was excessive. Asked if the force used against Floyd was appropriate to the offence of passing of a counterfeit $20, states that it was a minor offence and that the force used was excessive.
Asked if a large person would constitute a risk, answered no. Asked if Floyd was offering resistance, answered yes that officers were justified. But once he was prone on the ground the officers should have eased up. Agreed that Floyd offered resistance both inside and outside of the vehicle. Added that officers should have de-escalated the situation once Floyd was on the ground.
Asked about the hobble device used to shackle the legs of suspects to prevent them kicking officers, Stiger agreed and smirked when adding that it was also used to stop suspects from kicking out the windows of police vehicles. Agreed that officers felt that Floyd had started to comply which negated the necessity to use the hobble.
Court ended for the day.
