Vandals have struck the former home of an expert witness who testified in Derek Chavin's defense, smearing it in blood and leaving a severed pig's head on the doorstep, days after he took the stand in the George Floyd trial.
The group of vandals struck at around 3am on Saturday, wiping animal blood on the front door and garage of the residence in Santa Rosa, California, where use-of-force expert Barry Brodd once lived.
Police said the hoodlums, dressed entirely in black, tossed the pig's head onto the front porch and fled on foot as the resident called 911.
Soon afterwards, a similar looking group splattered animal blood on a statue of a hand in a nearby shopping mall, leaving a sign with a picture of a pig and the words 'Oink Oink'.
A group of vandals struck at around 3am on Saturday, smearing animal blood on the front door and garage of Barry Brodd's former residence in Santa Rosa, California
'Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted,' police said
The other target in the vandalism spree was a large statue of a hand, carved from marble, that rests outside Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall
'Mr. Brodd has not lived at the residence for a number of years and is no longer a resident of California. Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted,' police said in a statement.
Brodd, who had a long career in law enforcement including with the Santa Rosa Police department, is now a consultant who serves as an expert witness on police procedures and tactics.
Floyd died in Minneapolis last May after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes while he was handcuffed. Chauvin is charged with manslaughter and murder, and the case is expected to go to the jury this week.
Last week, Brodd testified police were justified in keeping Floyd pinned because he kept struggling instead of 'resting comfortably.'
That sparked a lectern-pounding response from prosecutor Steve Schleicher: 'Did you say 'resting comfortably'?' he asked incredulously.
Last week, Brodd (above) testified police were justified in keeping Floyd pinned because he kept struggling instead of 'resting comfortably'
Prosecutor Steve Schleicher (above) pounded the lectern as he replied incredulously: 'Did you say 'resting comfortably'?'
'Or laying comfortably,' replied Brodd, whose testimony contradicted that of authorities from inside and outside the Minneapolis Police Department who said Chauvin violated his training.
'Resting comfortably on the pavement?' Schleicher asked again. Brodd responded: 'Yes.'
Following Brodd's testimony in Chauvin's defense, Santa Rosa Police Chief Rainer Navarro issued a statement disavowing Brodd's view on the case.
'Mr. Brodd has not been employed by the department since 2004. His comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa Police Department,' Chief Rainer said.
Cops said that the damage to Brodd's former home exceeded $400, making the crime a felony.
Chauvin (right) is charged with murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd
The other target in the vandalism spree was a large statue of a hand, carved from marble, that rests outside Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall.
The perpetrators who targeted the hand were seen fleeing the area and matched the descriptions of the suspects who vandalized the house.
The statue, titled 'Agraria' by artist Larry Kirkland, does not appear to have any political significance that would make it a target.
Kirkland has said he intended the sculpture as a tribute to immigrant agricultural workers in Santa Rosa, the county seat of fertile Sonoma County.
The sculpture is a well-known landmark for tourists visiting Sonoma's wine country, and visitors often pose with the giant hand for photos.
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