Was Chauvin found guilty because he was guilty

Or because they didn't want the Country set on fire.
It didn't matter in Cincinnati where police pumped 137 bullets into a car with 2 unarmed people inside. The last shots were from a cop who jumped on the hood of the car and unloaded his sevice revolver into the 2 people inside. Showing off for the dozens of Cops there at the time. No jail time for any of those Cops.
Tim Russell and Mallissa William's were chased by a parade of police cars when their car backfired outside a police station. They were executed. NO CONVICTIONS. Free to go.

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Graylight · 51-55, F

One case has nothing at all to do with the other. Drawing conclusions is a fallacy. Yes, Chauvin was convicted because he was guilty. Incontrovertibly, irrefutably, scientifically and forensically.

The details in the case you mention: [quote]Russell was driving his 1979 light-blue Chevrolet Malibu and Williams was seated in the passenger seat. A plainclothes police officer spotted Russell's car in an area known for drug deals. The officer checked the license plate which uncovered nothing notable. He then tried to pull the car over for a turn signal violation. Russell did not pull over causing a police chase to ensue. As Russell sped past two officers, they believed that they heard shots being fired. As no firearm was found in the vehicle, the sound was most likely caused by the car backfiring.[/quote]

Not an execution, but an unwarranted shooting. The first problem lay with the police. The tried and true tactic of having nothing to stop someone on and making something up has caused more problems than you can imagine. And it happens all the live-ling day. That creates officers who walk up to a vehicle looking for trouble.

The couple led police on a 22-minute chase. Not around the block, not for a mile...for the duration of a TV show. Lots of time in there to consider stopping rather than blowing by other police vehicles. No doubt they thought they were going to end up in jail that night. The police officers probably believed the same thing.

The police actions went too far, no question. Do we need to re-imagining policing? No question. But to imply there was no legal blowback is misleading. In May 2014, one of the officers involved, Michael Brelo, was charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter, but was acquitted. Five police supervisors were also charged with dereliction of duty, a misdemeanor. Their trial was set on July 27, 2015. The families of Russell and Williams filed a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland, and received a settlement of $3 million in November 2014. On January 26, 2016, it was reported that six Cleveland police officers were fired due to their connection with the car chase.

Maybe a verdict like yesterday's will prevent scenes like the one that took WIlliams and Russell.

Pitchblue

@Graylight 137 bullets in the car. Last shots by Mike Brelo who jumped on the hood of the car and shot through the windshield into the 2 occupants but he was found Not Guilty because they couldn't determine if the 2 people were already dead or not. Dozens of Police cars can be seen on traffic cameras chasing the car that was backfiring. A perfect excuse to fill the car with bullets. How would any of these Cops ever know the difference between gunfire and a car backfiring? Some of these officers got desk duty as punishment but didn't like that and got the Police Union involved.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Pitchblue I'm not saying this wasn't a tragedy and a crime. I'm suggesting that being somehow angry or dissatisfied with Chauvin's conviction while others slip by is misdirected anger.

I think we all acknowledge there needs to be an investigation and reimagining of law enforcement, but this is a start. Take it for what it can be if we let it.