Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane has been released from prison after posting US$750,000 (NZ$1.14 million) bail.
Lane is one of three officers charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter following the killing of George Floyd.
According to Hennepin County Jail records, Lane, 37, was freed at 4:08pm on Wednesday (local time) after posting bail. His attorney, Earl Gray, confirmed Lane's release but has made no further comment to local media.
Lane, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Derek Chauvin were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department in Minnesota following the alleged murder of 46-year-old Floyd, an unarmed African-American who was arrested on suspicion of forgery on May 25. Chauvin, a 44-year-old officer with a history of conduct complaints, knelt on Floyd's neck for roughly eight minutes. A bystander filming the incident captured Floyd's repeated pleas for air until he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree and faces a maximum of 40 years behind bars. He has not entered a plea.
Under Minnesota law, abiding and abetting second-degree murder is equivalent to a second-degree murder charge - meaning Thao, Lane and Keung may face the same penalties as Chauvin if convicted, according to local media.
Lane was being held on US$1 million without conditions, but has been granted conditional release for US$750,000. He will be monitored, is not permitted to carry a gun and must not take part in any law enforcement activity, as reported by ABC News.
According to his jail record, Lane's next court appearance is scheduled for June 29.
Thao, 34, and Kueng, 26, are currently being held on $1 million bail. Chauvin's bail has been set at $1.25 million, according to his jail record.
