New documents released by the
Minnesota Judicial Branch on Tuesday show that George Floyd, who died while in police custody in May, had a potentially “fatal level” of fentanyl in his system at the time of death.
According to
Dr. Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner conducting the autopsy who did not watch videos until after his investigation, Floyd had such a high level of fentanyl in his system that if he was found dead at home, it would “be acceptable to call an O.D.”
While Dr. Baker clarified that he’s “not saying [Fentanyl killed” Floyd, he acknowledged that it may have played a larger role in Floyd’s death than first suspected.
Dr. Baker also noted that hypertension in Floyd’s heart could cause death “quicker because it needs more oxygen” and that “certain intoxicants(Read as fentanyl causing excited delirium) can exacerbate” Floyd’s previous condition.
A
memorandum from the Hennepin County Attorney’s office also noted that “is fatal level of fentanyl under normal circumstances” and concluded that “the autopsy [by Dr. Baker] revealed no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation.”
“Mr. Floyd did not exhibit signs of petechiae, damage to his airways or thyroid, brain bleeding, bone injuries, or internal bruising,” it reads.
As an interesting thought exercise about what was the biggest potential driver in his death...Would you rather be subdued across your upper back in prone position by a 140lb man for 9 minutes or be subjected to 3 times a typically fatal amount of fentanyl in your system?