GEORGE FLOYD
George Floyd and Derek Chauvin did not 'butt heads' at work
The man who said they knew each other and butted heads at work has taken back what he said and says he confused George Floyd with someone else.
After Derek Chauvin and George Floyd became inextricably linked after the former, a police officer, knelt on the latter's chest until he died, reports emerged that they had known each other previously.
According to Maya Santamaría, former owner of the El Nuevo Rodeo club, both Floyd and Chauvin had worked on the premises. Speaking to NBC news she confirmed that Floyd would occasionally provide security duty, while Chauvin worked at the establishment as an off-duty officer providing further support across much of the 17 years that she owned it.
Reports then emerged saying that the two had "bumped heads" while they were working together. David Pinney, a former employee at El Nuevo Rodeo in south Minneapolis, told CBS in an interview that the pair knew each other and said that Chauvin and Floyd's row "has a lot to do with Derek being extremely aggressive within the club with some of the patrons, which was an issue.”
Floyd and Chauvin did not 'butt heads' at work
Pinney has taken back that account of things, however, and apologised for not doing his due dilligence when he heard the news and decided to sit down with an interview with CBS. “There has been a mix up between George and another fellow co-worker,” Pinney wrote to CBS.
The man interviewed, was in no doubt he knew George Floyd before retracting the story. He said he worked under him as a security advisor. “We were pretty close," he said. "When it came to our security positions, he was in charge and I worked directly below him as a security adviser.”
“Is there any doubt in your mind that Derek Chauvin knew George Floyd?” CBS News asked Pinney.
“No,” Pinney replied. “He knew him.”
Pinney says that while he was wrong about Floyd, however, he does not take back what he says about Chauvin and sticks by his assessment of the police officer being aggressive with customers.
Santamaría, recalling Floyd, says she remembered fondly his big smile. "He would say, 'Hi boss lady. How you doing tonight?' Real sweet guy, lots of charisma. He was very beloved in the Latino community and certainly in his community as well."