Photo of ‘fake’ $20 bill that led to George Floyd’s death shown

The ‘fake’ $20 bill George Floyd was killed over in Minneapolis in May has been seen for the first time in court documents filed by one of the cops charged with his death.  

Thomas Lane was one of four cops who held Floyd down as he gasped for breath and begged for life on May 25 after being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 to pay for something in a convenience store in Minneapolis. 

Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck whereas Lane and two others; J.A. Kueng and  Thao Tou, held the man down.

Chauvin has been charged with murder and manslaughter and the other three have been charged with aiding and abetting him. 

The money George Floyd was killed over, photographed above in evidence that was submitted to court on Tuesday by one of the cops’ lawyers

The money was crumpled and stuffed down the side of the passenger seat. The cops said they thought Floyd was reaching potentially for a gun

The money was crumpled and stuffed down the side of the passenger seat. The cops said they thought Floyd was reaching potentially for a gun

Other photos from the court records show the money crumpled down the side of Floyd's seat

Other photos from the court records show the money crumpled down the side of Floyd’s seat 

But in a court filing on Wednesday, Lane’s attorney said there was no probable cause against him.  

He submitted photos of inside Floyd’s car which include images of what he calls to ‘crumpled’ fake $20 bills and two $1 bills. 

Also inside the car were Floyd’s sunglasses. 

Lane’s attorneys said : ‘The pictures in this exhibit show crumpled up money, two – counterfeit twenty dollar bills, and two –one dollar bills, lodged in between the center console and the passenger seat.

‘Right where Lane saw Floyd put his right hand.’ 

Lane’s attorney says he was the rookie who was simply following orders from Chauvin.

He’d only been on the job for two weeks when he arrested Floyd.

‘There is not substantial admissible evidence to survive a motion for a directed verdict that Thomas Lane aided and abetted second degree murder or manslaughter,’ his attorneys said.

They argued that the officers were ‘justified’ in their restraint of Floyd, saying: ‘The decision to restrain Floyd was reasonably justified. Prior to approaching the vehicle, officers saw furtive movement in the vehicle. 

‘Officers did not know if there was a gun involved or if the occupants of the vehicle were planning to flee. 

‘It was later learned that it was counterfeit money that Floyd was shoving into the side of the seat where officers saw him reaching, as evidenced by the pictures.

George Floyd was killed on May 25

Floyd died after officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes

George Floyd was killed on May 25 after officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes

Also in the car were a pair of sunglasses and a plastic bottle

Also in the car were a pair of sunglasses and a plastic bottle 

‘Floyd was uncooperative from the second officers approached his vehicle. Floyd was actively resisting and acting erratic for over 10 minutes,’ they wrote.

‘Floyd had just committed a felony, he was not being cooperative, and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. There was a lengthy struggle to get 6 foot four, 223 pound Floyd into the car. Floyd initially claimed he was claustrophobic and Lane offered to stay with him, roll the windows down, and turn the air conditioning on. Floyd still would not comply. 

Thomas Lane had only been a cop for four days when Floyd was killed. He says he was just following orders and shouldn't be charged

Thomas Lane had only been a cop for four days when Floyd was killed. He says he was just following orders and shouldn’t be charged

‘He continued to yell and kick back, and began bleeding during the struggle in the squad vehicle. While in the squad vehicle, Floyd was yelling that he was going to die and he could not breathe. 

‘Then there was a decision, based on Floyd’s request, to bring him to the ground, when they could not get him fully in the vehicle,’ the attorney wrote. 

The lawyer goes on to say that Lane was at Floyd’s feet and did not have a clear view of his neck so did not know that Chauvin was kneeling on it.

‘Based on Floyd’s actions up to this point, the officers had no idea what he would do next – hurt himself, hurt the officers, flee, or anything else, but he was not cooperating,’ he wrote. 

He also claimed that Lane asked ‘twice’ if Floyd should be moved onto his side, and said Chauvin assured him that he was fine.

‘Lane did not know what Chauvin was thinking while restraining Floyd. Chauvin did not verbally tell Lane anything about his intentions other than waiting for the ambulance to arrive. 

‘Lane knew Floyd needed to be restrained and he knew Chauvin was authorized to use reasonable force to restrain,’ the lawyer wrote.

Another angle of the infamous video shows Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck and the three other cops right beside him in Minneapolis last Monday

Another angle of the infamous video shows Chauvin with his knee on Floyd’s neck and the three other cops right beside him in Minneapolis last Monday