Four former policemen indicted on US civil rights charges in Floyd death

Derek Chauvin has been charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure

Former Minneapolis police officers (clockwise from top left) Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng are seen in booking photos from the Minnesota Department of Corrections and HennShow more

A federal grand jury has indicted the four former Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd’s arrest and death.

The officers, who have since been fired, are accused of willfully violating the black man’s constitutional rights as he was restrained facedown on the pavement and gasping for air.

A three-count indictment unsealed Friday names Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J Kueng and Tou Thao.

Chauvin has been charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure and the others have been charged with unreasonable force by a police officer and violating Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure.

In a trial that ended last month, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death.

Chauvin could spend up to 40 years behind bars for the May 25, 2020, killing, though he will likely receive a shorter sentence as per legal guidelines.

Floyd's death, which was caught on video, sparked global protests and brought centuries of racial injustice in the US into the spotlight.