Current:Home > FinanceRobert Brown|5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' death -Wealth Evolution Experts
Robert Brown|5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' death
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-06 19:11:53
Five former Memphis police officers have Robert Brownbeen indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. were indicted on charges relating to the deprivation of rights under color of law, including excessive force and failure to intervene as well as deliberate indifference, and conspiracy to witness-tamper, according to court records.
Nichols, 29, died on Jan. 10, three days after a violent confrontation with police following a traffic stop.
All five former officers also face state felony charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping, in connection with Nichols' death. They pleaded not guilty.
"Tyre Nichols should be alive today," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. "It is tragic to see a life cut short at 29, with so many milestones unmet, so many words unsaid, so much potential unfulfilled. These federal charges reflect the Justice Department's unwavering commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of every American and preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. We stand ready to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their misconduct because no one is above the law in our country."
Mike Stengel, the attorney for Haley in his state case, confirmed he will also be representing him on the federal charges.
"The indictment is disappointing, but not surprising," Stengel told ABC News. "He'll plead not guilty and defend himself in court."
William Massey, who represents Martin, said, "We have been expecting it and are ready to move forward." Bean's attorney, John Perry, said he had no comment.
The indictment outlines in detail what prosecutors allege were efforts by the five officers to brutally assault Nichols, purposely ignore his need for immediate medical care and later seek to cover up their actions.
Each of the defendants, according to the indictment, were involved in beating Nichols during the Jan. 7 traffic stop and none relayed information about their assault to the Memphis police dispatcher, their supervisor or the EMTs and paramedics who were coming to the scene.
MORE: Tyre Nichols: Timeline of investigation into his death
The officers allegedly spoke at the scene about how they had struck Nichols, "including hitting Nichols with straight haymakers and taking turns hitting him with so many pieces," but they also did not relay that information to first responders or their supervisors even as his condition "deteriorated and he became unresponsive," the indictment alleges.
The indictment also alleges the officers used their body-worn cameras to limit the capture of evidence, with Martin moving his body cam to a location where their assault of Nichols wouldn't be captured and Haley and Smith only activating their cameras after the group attacked Nichols.
After EMTs arrived, Haley and Mills removed their body-worn cameras and the group allegedly discussed their assault of Nichols making statements like, "Everybody rocking his a**, Pop pop, please fall; and I thought when he wasn't going to fall, we about to kill this man."
Afterward. at the police station, the group met and lied to an MPD detective about the arrest for the Incident Report, the indictment alleges, claiming Nichols had actively resisted arrest "by pulling gun belts" and grabbing one officer by his vest. Mills and Smith also falsely told the detective that "Nichols was so strong that he lifted two officers into the air."
The group further omitted information about how they had punched and kicked Nichols and the eventual incident report falsely stated that, "After several verbal command[s], Detectives were able to get the suspect Tyre Nichols in custody."
ABC News' Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.
veryGood! (259)
Related
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Does laser hair removal hurt? Not when done properly. Here's what you need to know.
- How do you get lice? Here's who is most susceptible, and the truth about how it spreads
- President Joe Biden makes surprise appearance on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' for show's 10th anniversary
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of disfiguring her skull, court documents say
- Cherry Starr, philanthropist wife of the late Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, dies at 89
- Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' trial on involuntary manslaughter charge set for July
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Florida lawmaker pulls bill on wrongful death of unborn children after Alabama IVF ruling
Ranking
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Jon Stewart chokes up in emotional 'Daily Show' segment about his dog's death
- Proof copy of Harry Potter book, bought for pennies in 1997, sells for more than $13,000
- Kentucky lawmakers advance bill allowing child support to begin with pregnancy
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- The killing of a Georgia nursing student is now at the center of the US immigration debate
- Ferguson, Missouri, agrees to pay $4.5 million to settle ‘debtors’ prison’ lawsuit
- Consumer Reports' top 10 car picks for 2024: Why plug-in hybrids are this year's star
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Starbucks and Workers United, long at odds, say they’ll restart labor talks
See the 10 cars that made Consumer Reports' list of the best vehicles for 2024
The bodies of an Australian couple killed by a police officer who was an ex-lover have been found
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Georgia Senate seeks to let voters decide sports betting in November
Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of disfiguring her skull, court documents say
UAW says a majority of workers at an Alabama Mercedes plant have signed cards supporting the union