The United States Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that the five former Tennessee police officers involved in the death of Tire Nichols a 29-year-old African-American who was killed during an arrest, faces four federal charges for violating his civil rights.
“The nation watched in horror as Tire Nichols They kicked him, punched him, electrocuted him and he was pepper sprayed, and we all heard Nichols screaming, calling his mother, and saying, ‘I’m just trying to get home,'” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
Ex-cops involved in Nichols’ death Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, have been charged with multiple charges, including second-degree murder, and have pleaded not guilty in the case.
Specifically, according to the Department of Justice, the five former police officers have had civil rights violations by Nichols for excessive use of force, for failing to provide medical aid during his detention; for giving false reports to the Police to cover up police violence and for obstruction.
Two of the cases brought a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, while the other two face up to 20 years in prison. The Justice Department announced an investigation in July into police violence within the Memphis force.
Nichols was arrested on January 7 during a traffic control for alleged reckless driving ultimately not proven. Footage of the arrest, released by Memphis Police, shows how the former officers beat the young man with a baton and gave him multiple electric shocks with a taser gun.
The death of Nicols Three days later, the hospital unleashed a new wave of protests. in some cities across the country against police brutality, especially after the death of George Floyd, the African-American citizen who died during his arrest by the police in Minneapolis.
