Two more Memphis police officers have been relieved of duty and three members of the city’s fire department fired in the wake of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols earlier this month.
Five officers have been fired and charged with murder in the beating, which was captured on multiple police cameras. Police released the videos last week, as CrimeOnline reported.
Addidtionally, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said he’d put two of his deputies on administrative leave while their actions were investigation.
Justin Smith, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, Demetrius Haley, and Tadarrius Bean, all members of MPD’s elite “SCORPION Unit,” were fired and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression. They have a;; been released on bond.
The SCORPION Unit was permanently disbanded after Police Chief CJ Davis met with the remaining members of the squad.
WREG reported that Officer Preston Hemphill and another unnamed officer have been relieved of duty since January 8, the day after the beating. Nichols died on January 10. Neither Hemphill nor the unnamed officer have been fired or charged.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Nichols’ family, told the Daily Beast that it was Hemphill who dragged Nichols from his car during the initial traffic stop. Hemphill also tased him, Crump said, and is heard telling fellow officers, “I hope they stomp his ass” as Nichols fled the violently angry officers.
Crump questioned why Hemphill has not been charged and why it took so long for MPD to provide his name. Police have not confirmed that Hemphill made the “stomp” comment, and his attorney, Lee Gerald, told The Daily Beast that Hemphill “was never present at the second scene” where the worst of the beating took place and that “he is cooperating with officials in this investigation.”
The Memphis Fire Department said it had fired EMTs Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge along with Lt. Michelle Whitaker for violating policy and protocol in their response to the incident.
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[Featured image: Tyre Nichols/Ben Crump]
