George Floyd drug use a key part of Wednesday’s testimony in Chauvin trial

George Floyd’s alleged drug use on the day of his death was a big part of testimony Wednesday in the Derek Chauvin trial. Pills taken as evidence from the squad car police were trying to get Floyd into had saliva matching Floyd’s DNA. Though the pills had markings indicating they contained oxycodone and acetaminophen further testing showed they actually contained meth and fentanyl. Susan Neith is a forensic chemist and she tested the pills and testified that the level of fentanyl was less than 1% and methamphetamine purity was 2.9%. Neith testified that that amount of fentanyl is fairly common in street drugs she’s tested containing fentanyl. As for the meth, Neith testified “that result is low, generally we see higher levels in methamphetamine samples that I have tested…and when you say higher levels, approximately what percentages of purity do you typically look at for street methamphetamine? The majority of time I see 90 to 100% methamphetamine.” The state is trying to put a dent in the defense’s contention that drug use may have been a factor in Floyd’s death. Earlier in the day, expert use of force witness L-A-P-D Sergeant Jody Stiger testified that in his opinion Derek Chauvin used excessive, deadly force in restraining George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. And Stiger testified that once Floyd was cuffed and on the ground, officers should have slowed or stopped the restraint. The defense went after Stiger’s analysis asking, “so the notion that a handcuffed suspect no longer presents a threat to an officer is not correct?” Stiger responded, “it depends on the circumstances.” .Stiger did admit that Floyd was resisting arrest at first as officers were trying to get him into a squad car. During cross-examination of Stiger, the defense played video of George Floyd being restrained by Derek Chauvin and asked Stiger “did you hear what [Floyd} said?…does it sound like he says ‘I ate too many drugs?’ Listen again…” Stiger said he couldn’t hear what was being said. Later in the day, BCA Agent James Reyerson testified about the video and said “I believe Mr. Floyd was saying ‘I ain’t do no drugs.’