The police report that was written hours after the beating of Tyre Nichols contradicts the videos that have since surfaced in striking ways. The report claims that Nichols was violent, but makes no mention of the powerful kicks and punches that were unleashed on him.
Nichols, 29, who died three days after the January 7 beating, was portrayed in the police report as an enraged suspect who "began to fight" with Memphis police officers and even reached for one of their guns. The videos released last week demonstrated nothing of the sort.
Tyre Nichols Investigation
Instead, they caught police officers dragging Nichols out of a car and threatening to hurt him. When he ran away, they caught up with him and beat him to death. The videos show that Nichols never fought back during the whole thing.
On Monday, the effects of Nichols' death kept getting worse, in addition to the five officers who have already been fired and charged with murder for the beating, the Police Department said that it had suspended two more officers. Gina Sweat, who was in charge of the city's fire department, fired two EMTs and a lieutenant who had come to the scene, saying that they had broken a number of rules.
Per NY Times, the fire chief stated that the EMTs had relied on information given to them at the scene, presumably by some of the police officers who had just kicked, punched, and used a baton to beat Nichols, a FedEx employee and father who had begged the officers to stop.
The officer wrote in Nichols' arrest report that police stopped Nichols' car on January 7 after observing him drive quickly and into oncoming traffic, and that Nichols "refused a lawful detention" and fought with detectives at the scene.
The Memphis police chief, Cerelyn Davis, stated that investigators were unable to determine whether Nichols was driving recklessly. And the videos show that officers approached his car with their weapons drawn and in a threatening and intimidating manner.
Since Nichols was fatally beaten, his brother Jamal Dupree is speaking publicly for the first time about the daily horror and anguish his family endures. Dupree has not viewed the video of his 29-year-old brother receiving baton blows and head kicks. He stated that he has no need to see it.
In response to public outrage over the gruesome video, officials have announced additional firings and disciplinary actions against public employees at the scene. In addition to the dismissals of the five Black Memphis police officers facing murder charges, officials have also announced the dismissal of three Memphis Fire Department personnel, CNN reported.
Tyre Nichols Video
Two deputies of the sheriff have been placed on leave. And the police department acknowledged on Monday that two additional officers were placed on administrative leave. The prosecutor stated that prosecutors moved swiftly to file charges against the five officers primarily responsible for Tyre Nichols' death. Regarding everyone else, it will take time.
The release of gruesome footage of the attack on Nichols horrified a nation that has been inundated with videos of police brutality, particularly against people of color. The fatal encounter began with police stopping Nichols for what they initially claimed was reckless driving and unfolds in two locations.
Dupree stated that he felt obligated to protect his younger brother. Now he claims to be wracked with guilt because he was unable to save him. He stated that everyone should remember how much happiness Nichols brought to the world.
Due to the lack of available footage of that specific moment, it is difficult to determine precisely why the officers stopped Nichols in the first place. The situation is hostile and aggressive from the beginning of the officers' interactions with Nichols. During the initial encounter, he is dragged from the car and onto the ground by the officers.
When the officers attempt to deploy their tasers on him, he escapes and flees the scene, running in the direction of his mother's residence. The video then shows officers catching up with Nichols, wrestling him to the ground, and pepper spraying him. Nichols is rendered unable to stand as a result of the officers' kicking, punching, and use of batons.
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old does not appear to strike back at any officers. His pleas for his mother are repeated. Antonio Romanucci, the attorney for the Nichols family, stated that the officers treated Nichols as a human pinata, as per The Independent.
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