$500,000 bond set for ex-officer arrested for murder in George Floyd death; wife files for divorce

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Bail was set at $500,000 for the now-former Minneapolis officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in custody after pleading that he could not breathe.

Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, according to the criminal complaint filed in the 4th Judicial District Court of Minnesota.

Court documents obtained Friday night didn't indicate that Chauvin was out on bail, but it did indicate that if he does bond out, bail was set for $500,000.

Also Friday night, ABC News confirmed that Chauvin's wife filed for divorce.

Kellie Chauvin, through her attorney, expressed condolences to Floyd's family and said she had filed for dissolution of her marriage.

Her husband was taken into custody by state investigators a short time before Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced the charges.

“The defendant had his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total. Two minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Mr. Floyd was non-responsive,” according to the criminal complaint filed by Freeman against Chauvin.

Read further details of the criminal complaint by clicking here.

"The investigation is ongoing," Freeman said, adding that he anticipated charges against the other three officers involved in the incident."We entrust our police officers to use certain amounts of force to do their job to protect us. They commit a criminal act if they use this force unreasonably."

There was no immediate comment from Chauvin's attorney or the Minneapolis Police Union.

Chauvin's arrest came Friday morning as fires continued to burn from violent protests overnight as demonstrators demanded justice for Floyd.

There had been three nights of protests, which escalated in violence as some protesters torched a police precinct that had been abandoned by officers.

News of the arrest also came after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged the “abject failure” of the response to this week’s protests and called for swift justice for the officers involved in Floyd's death.

Walz said the state would take over the response to the protests and added it was time to show respect and dignity to those who are suffering.