Five former Memphis police officers have been federally indicted in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols in January.
A grand jury in Tennessee handed down a four-count indictment against Emmitt Martin III, 31, Tadarrius Bean, 24, Demetrius Haley, 30, Desmond Mills Jr., 33, and Justin Smith, 28, on Tuesday. Nichols died from injuries suffered during a traffic stop that led to the officers using force against him.
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The five officers were part of the Memphis Police Department's Scorpion team, a specialized crime unit deployed to deter violence in the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods. The unit was created 14 months before Nichols's death and was disbanded after the charges against the officers were announced.
All of the charges stem from violating Nichols's civil rights. The first count alleges that the defendants aided and abetted one another in using excessive force and failing to intervene. The second count charges the officers with deliberate indifference. The third count alleges the officers omitted and provided false and misleading information to their superiors and others to cover up their use of force. The fourth count charges the officers with an obstruction offense for allegedly omitting material evidence to two Memphis officers who had to write reports about Nichols's death.
“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."
Clarke continued, "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.”
The charges handed down on Tuesday are part of a criminal investigation and separate from the Justice Department's civil pattern or practice investigation into the Memphis Police Department.
“When I announced this investigation back in January, I said I wanted this city to be a place where justice is done,” U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee said regarding the criminal charges. “This indictment alleging civil rights violations is an important step in ensuring that justice is done for Tyre Nichols."
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The five officers are also facing state charges out of Shelby County for second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression. They pleaded not guilty to the charges in February.
Legal counsel on behalf of Nichols's family filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Memphis, the Memphis Police Department, and the officers and people involved in April. The lawsuit seeks $550 million in damages.