Four Louisville police charged over Breonna Taylor death

(Eagle News) — The U.S. Justice Department charged four Louisville Metro Police officers with federal crimes in connection with the March 2020 death of Breonna Taylor.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced Thursday morning the officers were being being charged with civil rights offenses, unlawful conspiracy, unconstitutional use of force and obstruction.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 13, 2021 protestors carry a banner with the face of Breonna Taylor during a rally in remembrance on the one year anniversary of her death in Louisville, Kentucky. The US Justice Department announced on August 4, 2022 that it was charging four police officers over the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed in a botched 2020 raid on her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Jeff Dean / AFP

According to Garland, Joshua Jaynes, Kelly Goodlett and Kyle Meany were charged with falsification of a search warrant in a suspected drug trafficking case.

They are accused of violating Taylor’s rights by seeking a warrant to search her home when they knew they lacked probable cause for such a search.

The fourth officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with using excessive force by opening fire wildly during the raid which left Taylor dead.

The death of Taylor as well as the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police fueled protests across the United States against racial injustice and police brutality.

(Eagle News Service)