George Floyd: Transcript of 911 call that sparked his arrest released, as violent protests spread across America

Violent protests are spreading across the US over the death of George Floyd and now, the 911 call that sparked his arrest has been released.

Chaos continues to erupt in the US city of Minneapolis on the third day of increasingly violent protests of the death of African-American man George Lloyd at the hands of a white policeman.

Footage emerged on Tuesday showing four officers arresting Mr Floyd, 46, who was handcuffed and pinned to the ground.

One officer was seen kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes as he repeatedly screamed “I can’t breathe” before losing consciousness. Terrified bystanders watched on, telling the officer Mr Floyd was bleeding from the nose and struggling.

He was then put on a stretcher and taken to the Hennepin County Medical Centre where was pronounced dead.

A Minneapolis officer kneels on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed man who was pleading that he could not breathe. Picture: AP

A looter uses a claw hammer as he tries to break in to a cash register at a Target store in Minneapolis. Picture: AP

Protests broke out in the city, in the American state of Minnesota, and have become more and more heated each day, with widespread looting, multiple blazes – including at a police station – and mounting destruction.

On Thursday night, local time, demonstrations popped up in other cities across the US, including Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Now, a transcript of the 911 call that prompted the arrest of Mr Floyd has been released.

Operator: 911, what's the address of the emergency?

Caller: This, is, ah, 3759 Chicago Ave.

Operator: How can I help you?

Caller: Um, someone comes our store and give us fake bills and we realise it before he left the store, and we ran back outside, they was sitting on their car. We tell them to give us their phone, put their (inaudible) thing back and everything and he was also drunk and everything and return to give us our cigarettes back and so he can, so he can go home but he doesn't want to do that, and he's sitting on his car cause he is awfully drunk and he's not in control of himself.

Operator: OK, what type of vehicle does he have?

Caller: And, um, he's got a vehicle that is ah … one second, let me see if I can see the license. The driver license is BRJ026.

Operator: OK, what colour is it?

Caller: It's a blue colour. It's a blue van.

Operator: Blue van?

Caller: Yes, van.

Operator: Alright blue van, gotcha. Is it out front or is it on 38th St?

Caller: Ah, it's on 38th St.

Operator: On 38th St. So, this guy gave a counterfeit bill, has your cigarettes, and he's under the influence of something?

Caller: Something like that, yes. He is not acting right.

Protesters hold up their fists as flames rise behind them in front of the 3rd Precinct after it went up in flames. Picture: AFP

Operator: What's he look like, what race?

Caller: Um, he's a tall guy. He's like, tall and bald, about like six (foot) … six-and-a-half, and she's not acting right so and she started to go, drive the car.

Operator: OK so, female or a male?

Caller: Um …

Operator: Is it a girl or a boy?

Caller: (Talking to somebody else) He's asking (inaudible) one second. Hello?

Operator: Is it a girl or a boy that did this?

Caller: It is a man.

Operator: OK. Is he white, black, Native, Hispanic, Asian?

Caller: Something like that.

Operator: Which one? White, black, Native, Hispanic, Asian?

Caller: No, he's a black guy.

Operator: Alright (sighs).

Caller: How is your day going?

Operator: Not too bad.

Caller: Had a long day, huh?

Operator: What's your name?

Caller: My name is (redacted)

Operator: Alright, a phone number for you?

Caller: (Redacted)

Operator: Alright, I've got help on the way. If that vehicle or that person leaves before we get there, just give us a call back, otherwise we'll have squads out there shortly, OK?

Caller: No problem.

Operator: Thank you.