It turns out that before Derek Chauvin, the officer, was filmed kneeling on George Floyd’s neck they both worked at the same nightclub/restaurant in Minneapolis.
Maya Santamaria, the former owner of El Nuevo Rodeo in Minneapolis, told Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP that Chauvin “was our off-duty police for almost the entirety of the 17 years that we were open.” Floyd also worked at the club for around a year, but as a bouncer, Santamaria said.
Minneapolis Cop Who Knelt on Man’s Neck Charged With Murder.
Santamaria believes the two men more than likely wouldn’t have recognized each other, because “Chauvin worked outside and the security guards were inside,” Santamaria continued.
Santamaria said if Chauvin had recognized Floyd, “he might have given him a little more mercy.”
Santamaria, who sold the venue within the past two months, said Chauvin got along well with the regular Latino customers, but did not like to work the African American nights. When he did, and there was a fight, he would spray people with mace and call for police backup and half-dozen squad cars would soon show up, something she felt was unjustified “overkill.”