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A sixth Memphis police officer has been relieved of duty following footage of the fatal arrest of Tyre Nichols being made public.
According to CNN, the individual is named Officer Preston Hemphill.
Memphis police Maj. Karen Rudolph shared a statement with reporters on Monday.
He was relieved of duty with the other officers. Remember, we said this investigation is ongoing. More information will be shared as it develops.
According to Axios, Hemphill was hired in 2018. Authorities have not disclosed Hemphill’s role in the fatal arrest of Nichols, as reported by WREG. But Local Memphis reports that Hemphill was present at the initial traffic stop of Nichols. The outlet reports that Hemphill is shown on video “pulling him from his car forcefully.” And “hitting him on the ground with a Taser.” The outlet adds that Hemphill made a statement after Nichols attempted to flee the scene.
I hope they stomp his a**.
Additionally, “two Shelby County deputies and Memphis Fire Department employees” have been relieved of duty.
The Department of Justice and the FBI Memphis Field Office are investigating further regarding if Nichols’ civil rights were violated by police. As The Shade Room previously reported, Memphis authorities made body cam footage of Nichol’s arrest public on Friday.
In the footage, Nichols is seen being violently assaulted by officers who repeatedly struck the 29-year-old as he screamed for his mother. According to The New York Times, the five officers who have been charged with his murder gave Nichols “at least 71 commands.” The officers’ commands took place within a matter of 13 minutes. And “were often simultaneous and contradictory.”
In addition, their actions continued to escalate and become more violent, even as Nichols complied.
Justin Smith, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, Demetrius Haley, and Tadarrius Bean are the five officers initially arrested for Nichol’s murder. As The Shade Room previously reported, the men have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression.
According to WLBT, Bean, Smith, and Mills paid their $250,000 bond. While Haley and Martin are still being held on a $350,000 bond. All five officers are expected to appear in court on February 17 at 9 a.m.
