The family of a young black man who died in Memphis, Tenn., police custody is outraged and looking for answers, starting with the release of body camera footage that could help explain what happened to 29-year-old Tire Nichols in during a routine. . traffic stopped this month.
Nichols’ family and local activists planned a series of protests for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in Memphis, the same city where the civil rights leader was assassinated more than 50 years ago. They called for the full camera footage to be released and revealed a shocking photo of Nichols in a hospital bed after his arrest but before his death. In the picture, he appears to have suffered serious injuries, with the family describing him as “Unrecognisable.”
Nichols, a FedEx worker who enjoyed skateboarding and photography, died three days after a Jan. 7 traffic stop for reckless driving.
It’s unclear what happened before Nichols arrived in an ambulance. Officers said he ran from the stop, but gave a vague account of what happened as they gave chase.
“A confrontation occurred and the suspect fled the scene on foot,” police said in a Jan. 8 statement, adding that “another confrontation occurred” before Nichols was arrested.
His family said Nichols was pepper-sprayed, beaten and beaten by multiple officers during the stop.
Nichols complained of experiencing “shortness of breath at which time an ambulance was called to the scene,” police said. He was taken to hospital and died on January 10. Officials have not released a cause of death, but Nichols’ family said he was suffering from cardiac arrest and kidney failure.
HuffPost made several attempts to contact Memphis Police but did not receive a response.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the incident, while the officers involved have been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Nichols’ death is just the latest in a string of high-profile incidents that have rocked the city. In 2018, police shot Martavious Banks during a traffic stop and an officer’s body camera malfunctioned. Three years earlier, police also shot Darrius Stewart, who was unarmed and running from an officer after a traffic stop.
None of the officers involved in the deaths of Banks or Stewart have been charged in Memphis, although police found Jamarcus James, a former officer, in violation of department policy, and a former Memphis district attorney recommended that former officer Connor Schilling be charged under accusation. by a grand jury.
Since Nichols’ arrest and death, his family has held four rallies and a memorial service in his honor. Activists also clashed with public officials, including the city’s mayor.
On Saturday, Memphis activist and organizer Hunter Demster obtained a picture of Nichols in a hospital bed. In the photo, which is reprinted in this story, his face appeared disfigured, with bruises and swollen eyes.
The family protested the graphic photo outside the Memphis Police Department, demanding justice and accountability.
As Mayor Jim Strickland hosted the annual Luminary Awards in Memphis on Monday, protesters disrupted the event to demand immediate answers and transparency about Nichols’ death.
Amber Sherman, an organizer at a Black Lives Matter chapter in Memphis, contacted Strickland and asked when the city would release more information about the fatal crash.
“Mayor Strickland, do you have anything to say? Do you have anything to say about the MPD killing of Tire Nichols? Sherman asked.
“It’s a very sad situation,” Strickland replied.
Sherman then asked if the mayor would join activists in calling for the footage to be aired. Strickland told Sherman his office was “working on it right now,” but when asked how long it would take, Strickland said, “I don’t know.”
Sherman argued that airing the footage should be a priority because “police are still killing people here.”
“No, they don’t keep killing people here,” Strickland responded, again calling Nichols’ case a “sad situation.” (Since early December, four more people have been shot by police in Memphis, three of them fatally. Nichols was the first person to die in police custody this year.)
Nichols’ family said an officer initially told them not to go to the hospital where he was being treated, according to Sherman, who is also the president of the Shelby County Young Democrat.
“We’re not going to stop. Where’s the footage? They’re not releasing anything,” Sherman said. “He was really scared and he ran because they were normal-looking people. Just like the black people here, somebody stopping me in the an unmarked vehicle, I’d be scared too.”
Allison Fouche, a spokeswoman for Strickland’s office, told HuffPost on Tuesday that the city plans to release body camera footage of the incident next week after an internal investigation is complete and officials have given the family a chance to view the video first. .
Strickland’s office and city Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis released a statement Tuesday afternoon after the Luminary Awards event was suspended.
Tire Nichols’ family
“We understand and agree that transparency regarding the events surrounding the death of Mr. Tire Nichols is of the utmost importance, particularly the release of the footage,” the statement read. He added that city officials plan to meet with Ben Crump, who is representing Nichols’ family.
Newly elected Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy also released a statement Tuesday, saying his office is “committed to transparency” and understands the public’s “reasonable request to see the footage.”
“We are working with the appropriate agencies to determine how quickly we can release the video and will do so as soon as possible,” the statement said.
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