12/23/21 - Jury Finds Minnesota Police Officer Guilty of Manslaughter

After four days of deliberation, the jury returned two guilty verdicts against former officer Kimberly Potter in the death of Daunte Wright.

Former Minnesota Police officer Kimberly Potter was found guilty on two counts of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright.  Potter was involved in the traffic stop and shot Wright with her handgun, when she says she believed she had pulled out her taser.

The jury deliberated for over four days and found potter guilty on 1st and 2nd degree manslaughter.  Potter will be sentenced in February.

The judge was asked by the defense counsel to allow Potter to be freed on bond saying she has no prior criminal record, is involved in her local community, and does not pose a flight risk.

The prosecution countered that it was just revealed that Potter lives in another state.  The judge denied bond and ordered Potter to immediately be held in the county jail.  The judge says in such cases, she had to be consistent with other cases. 

Potter was found guilty of shooting Wright when attempting to arrest him.  The defense had countered Potter was justified because Wright was resisting. The prosecution says that argument would open the doors on any officer involved shooting to be ruled justifiable.

Minnesota has had high profile officer involved shooting cases before.  The Minnesota Attorney General released a statement to law enforcement saying:

"When a member of your profession is held accountable, it does not diminish you. In fact...  It shows the whole world that those of you who enforce the law are also willing to live by it. And that's a good thing. It restores trust, faith and hope."