The five Memphis police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols last month are now being accused of assaulting a different Black man three days before the high-profile incident.
On Tuesday, 22-year-old Monterrious Harris filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the officers, who were members of the now-disbanded SCORPION police unit, were the law enforcement personnel who punched, stomped, and dragged him across concrete when he was arrested on January 4.
More Officers Charged in Tyre Nichols Case
Major Karen Rudolph of the Memphis Police Department was asked for comments regarding the latest lawsuit. However, she said the department could not comment on ongoing litigation.
Harris' lawsuit, filed in US District Court, alleges that the victim was unconstitutionally arrested and accused the city of failing to prevent or address an alleged pattern of policing abuses within the SCORPION unit that it has created.
The unit was launched in 2021 and was championed by the city and the police department as a tool that would tackle some of Memphis' most violent crimes. However, authorities quickly shut down the unit after the videos of Nichols' brutal and violent arrest sparked nationwide unrest, as per CNN.
The officers who were part of the SCORPION unit have now been charged with murder, assault, and several other charges about Nichols' death. Furthermore, two of the officers are planning to plead not guilty, said their attorneys.
The defendants have been identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. They are among the team of officers who arrested Harris while he was at an apartment complex.
The accounts given in the affidavit and the lawsuit strongly contradict one another, as the latter accuses the police officers of providing a "falsified" affidavit about the details of Harris' arrest. Furthermore, it notes that the victim arrived at an apartment complex to meet with his cousin, who was sitting in the car with him briefly but later got out to get a jacket.
The Threat of Police Brutality
The officers, who supposedly wore ski masks and did not immediately identify themselves, allegedly confronted Harris while his cousin was away. After taking the victim into custody, the police claimed they discovered a handgun in the car and argued that Harris possessed Xanax and marijuana.
Nichols' beating death comes as the city of Memphis has become one of the nation's murder hotspots due to various factors, including a chronic shortage of officers, especially experienced supervisors. According to the Associated Press, it also stems from an increasing number of law enforcement personnel quitting and difficulties in bringing in qualified new recruits.
Seven more Memphis police officers have been placed under administrative investigation following Nichols' death. They are facing disciplinary action, said the city's chief legal officer, Jennifer Sink.
In a statement, she added that any criminal case related to the January 7 traffic stop of Nichols is being handled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. However, the seven officers have not been identified, said NBC News.
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