Four former Memphis police officers pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal civil rights charges in the violent beating and death of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop nine months ago.
A fifth officer who was also fired and indicted by a federal grand jury, Emmitt Martin, was scheduled to make his first appearance Thursday. All five were charged with deprivation of rights under the color of law through excessive force and failure to intervene, and through deliberate indifference; conspiracy to witness tampering; and obstruction of justice through witness tampering.
Claxton ordered the release of the four officers who were present in court Wednesday on a $50,000 unsecured bond, which means that they don't have to pay any money unless they fail to appear in court. The indictment says the officers failed to tell dispatchers, their supervisor and emergency medical technicians they knew Nichols had been hit repeatedly, trying to cover up their use of force and shield themselves from criminal liability.
The indictment accuses the officers of gathering after the beating and saying, among other things, that “I thought when he wasn’t going to fall, we about to kill this man.” The indictment does not specify which officer made that statement.
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5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' deathFive former Memphis police officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols.
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5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' deathFive former Memphis police officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols.
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5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' deathFive former Memphis police officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols.
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5 former Memphis officers indicted by federal grand jury in Tyre Nichols' deathFive former Memphis police officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols.
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