On Tuesday, five former Memphis police officers were charged in federal court with violating the civil rights of Black motorist Tyre Nichols by beating him to death following a traffic stop and then covering up the incident.
In a four-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury, the officers are accused of concealing body-camera recordings of the assault and lying to their superiors, as per Reuters.
Federal Charges Filed Against Former Memphis Police Officers
The federal indictment is distinct from the charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and official misconduct previously presented in Tennessee state court by local prosecutors against the ex-officers, all Black American.
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office stated that it was moving forward with the state case and welcomed the federal government's assistance, adding that it was unlikely that the two criminal investigations would intersect.
Following a traffic stop on January 7, police body-worn cameras and a camera mounted on a utility pole captured images of five officers beating Nichols with kicks, punches, and baton blows, spraying him with pepper spray, and discharging a stun gun.
During the beating, Nichols, 29, a father, aspiring photographer, and avid skateboarder who resided with his mother and stepfather and worked for FedEx, was heard pleading, "I didn't do anything.... I'm just trying to go home."
After the encounter, he was hospitalized and died three days later. The incident reignited a lengthy national discussion on racial injustice and police misconduct. During his February State of the Union address, US President Biden cited the Nichols case to call for police reforms. Nichols' parents were in attendance.
The federal charges allege that the officers violated Nichols' civil rights during the assault by failing to intervene, render first aid, and conceal the assault from emergency medical personnel. Kevin Ritz, US attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, stated at a news conference that each of the two civil rights charges entails a maximum sentence of life in prison if the officers are found guilty.
The remaining two offenses are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. They accuse the officers of lying about what transpired to superiors and investigators.
In addition, they are charged with attempting to conceal the assault by removing or turning away their body cameras at crucial moments and by fabricating a story that Nichols attempted to seize their firearms and "was so strong that he lifted two officers into the air."
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith, dismissed from the Memphis Police Department, pleaded not guilty in February to state charges, according to USA Today.
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Tyre Nichols Death
Police initially stated that Nichols was stopped for driving recklessly, but the city police chief subsequently noted that the reason for the stop was unfounded. Ritz stated that the defendants were anticipated to make their initial court appearances in the future days.
Michael Stengel, who represents Haley, stated that his client would enter a not-guilty plea and defend himself in court.
"The indictment is disappointing, but not surprising," Stengel wrote in an email.
Martin's attorney, William Massey, stated in an email, "We have been anticipating this and are prepared to proceed."
In July, the Justice Department initiated a distinct civil investigation to determine if the Memphis Police Department engaged in an unconstitutional "pattern or practice" of excessive force and racial discrimination.
Officials stated that the analysis would include a review of allegations that officers stopped a disproportionate number of African-American motorists in the majority-Black city for trivial infractions, such as a broken tail light.
The Justice Department has received multiple reports of excessive force by Memphis police officers, including incidents in which individuals were already restrained or detained. Clarke stated that the department was conducting community meetings as part of the civil investigation, New York Post reported.
