Minnesota State Patrol purged messages after Floyd protests

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Court grounds shows that the Minnesota State Patrol purged emails and substance messages instantly aft protests implicit the decease of George Floyd, during which the bureau is accused of targeting journalists.

Attorneys for the Minnesota section of the American Civil Liberties Union accidental the purge of messages has made it astir intolerable to way the State Patrol's behavior, arsenic investigators effort to find whether instrumentality enforcement utilized improper unit connected demonstrators.

The accusation came retired during a July 28 proceeding successful a suit that alleges the State Patrol targeted journalists.

According to the Associated Press, connected July 28, State Patrol Maj. Joseph Dwyer said during his grounds that communications were deleted by himself and a "vast bulk of the agency."

A transcript of the proceeding was posted connected the tribunal docket connected Friday.

State Patrol spokesperson Bruce Gordon says officers travel each information retention requirements.

The AP reported that the suit was filed against the Minneapolis Police Department and the State Patrol due to the fact that the agencies allegedly utilized "unnecessary and excessive force" connected journalists who were determination to screen the unrest.

During his testimony, Dwyer said nary 1 ordered the troopers to delete the records but that it was “standard practice” for them to bash so, the AP reported.