Santa Rosa, CA – Vandals targeted a defense witness in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd by throwing pig blood all over the front of the house and leaving a pig’s head on the front porch.
But the defense witness that was being targeted hasn’t lived in that house in a long time, the Associated Press reported.
“It appears the suspects in this vandalism were targeting Mr. Brodd for his testimony,” the Santa Rosa Police Department said in a statement. “Mr. Brodd has not lived at the residence for a number of years and is no longer a resident of California.”
The new homeowners called 911 at about 3 a.m. on April 17 after they woke to find a mob dressed in black vandalizing their home, the Associated Press reported.
The damage done to the home has been estimated at more than $4,000 which made the crime a felony, KPIX reported.
Investigators believe the suspects had targeted former Santa Rosa Police Officer Barry Brodd.
Police said in a press release “because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted,” KPIX reported.
Just before 4 a.m., a group of vandal threw pig blood all over a large hand statue in downtown Santa Rosa and left a sign that read “Oink Oink.”
The suspects who were spotted fleeing the scene matched the description of the suspects in the incident at the defense witness’s former home, KPIX reported.
Santa Rosa Police say 45 minutes later a hand statue at the plaza mall was vandalized w/blood and a sign saying “Oink Oink”. The substance is believed to be animal blood.
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(2/3) #ChauvinTrial pic.twitter.com/7EmX5MRx7A— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) April 18, 2021
Brodd testified as a defense expert witness on Chauvin’s behalf on April 14.
He told the jury that Chauvin’s restraint of Floyd the day he died was within proper police practices, KPIX reported.
Santa Rose Police Chief Ranier Navarro distanced himself from the former officer after he testified.
“We are aware of former Santa Rosa Police Officer, Barry Brodd, providing testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial,” Chief Navarro said in a statement. “His comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa Police Department.”