Memphis braces for release of Tire Nichols arrest video

The 29-year-old black man’s death has sparked murder charges against five officers, also black, and outrage over the latest case of police brutality in the United States.

The city of Memphis and Estados Unidos hopes for the publication of a police video that mostraba a cinco oficiales golpeando brutalmente a Tire Nichols, un hombre negro cuya muerte provocó cargos de asesinato contra los policías e indignación por el último caso de brutalidad policial en el Country.

Officers were charged Thursday with murder and other crimes in the killing of Nichols, a motorist who died three days after a confrontation with officers during a January 7 traffic stop.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that although each officer played a different role in the murder, “everyone is responsible.”

The officers, who are all black, face charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

People attend a candlelight vigil for Tire Nichols, who died after being beaten by police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, January 26, 2023. Photo: AP

Relatives of Nichols and his attorneys say footage shows officers savagely beating the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault on the legal team over the infamous police beating of 1991 against Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

Memphis Police Superintendent Cerelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as ‘gross, reckless and inhumane’ and said Friday her department was unable to prove the reckless driving allegation that led on arrest.

Davis said he expected protests to break out after the video was released. But he urged the community to stay in peace.

“I hope our citizens will exercise their First Amendment right to protest, to demand action and results, but we need to make sure our community is safe in this process,” he said. “None of this is a calling card to incite violence or destruction in our community or against our citizens.”

Video of the traffic stop will be released Friday evening, Mulroy said, noting that state and local investigators wanted to conduct as many interviews as possible before releasing it.

Davis told Good Morning America that the decision to air the video Friday night rather than earlier in the day was made after consulting with other local leaders, who feel it’s best to air when schools are closed and that people are home after work.

As a precaution, schools in the Memphis area canceled all extracurricular activities and postponed a school event scheduled for Saturday morning.

Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, told The Associated Press by phone that he and his wife, RowVaughn Wells, who is Nichols’ mother, discussed the second-degree murder charges and “agreed.” “. They had been seeking charges of first degree murder.

“There are other charges, so that’s fine with me,” he said.

People attend a candlelight vigil for Tire Nichols, who died after being beaten by police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, January 26, 2023. Photo: AP

The Wells joined several dozen supporters on a chilly Thursday night for a candlelight vigil and prayer service at a Memphis skate park. Nichols, who had a 4-year-old son, was an avid skater.

RowVaughn Wells, who said his family was “grieved”, warned supporters of the “horrific” nature of the video due to be released on Friday, but like Davis, he pleaded for peaceful protests.

“I don’t want our town burned down, the streets destroyed, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said. “If they’re here for me and Tyr, they’ll protest peacefully.”

Court records show the five former officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, were arrested.

Martin’s attorney, William Massey, confirmed that his client had surrendered. He and Mills’ attorney Blake Ballin said their clients would plead not guilty. Lawyers for Smith, Bean and Haley could not be reached.

“No one there that night had any intention of putting Tire Nichols to death,” Massey said.

The two lawyers said they had not seen the video.

“We are in the dark about a lot of things, just like the general public,” Ballin said.

Second degree murder is punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison, according to Tennessee law.

Lawyers for Nichols’ family, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, released a statement saying Nichols “lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that underscores the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops happening.” occur during the procedure”. as in this case, a traffic control”.

At the White House, President Joe Biden said the Nichols family and the city of Memphis deserve “a prompt, full, and transparent investigation.”

“Public trust is the foundation of public safety, and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken,” Biden said in a statement.

Tire Nichols, who died in a hospital on January 10, three days after being injured while being arrested by police, is seen in this undated image obtained from social media. Photo: Reuters

Davis said other officers are still being investigated for violations of department policy. In addition, he indicated that “a complete and independent review” of the specialized units of the department will be carried out, without giving more details.

Two firefighters were also fired due to Nichols’ arrest.

As state and federal investigations continue, Davis pledged the “full cooperation” of the police department in determining what contributed to Nichols’ Jan. 10 death.

Crump said the video showed Nichols being shocked, pepper sprayed and restrained when he was arrested near his home. He was driving home from a suburban park where he had taken photos of the sunset.

Police say Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving and at some point fled the scene.

Family members accused police of causing Nichols to have a heart attack and kidney failure. Authorities said only that Nichols had a medical emergency.

One of the officers, Haley, has previously been accused of using excessive force. He was named as a defendant in a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2016 while working for the Shelby County Division of Corrections.

The claims were ultimately dismissed after a judge ruled that Sledge had not filed a complaint against the officers within 30 days of the incident.

Source: Latercera

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