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Five former Memphis police officers involved in the brutal beating and death of Tyre Nichols are now facing federal charges.
According to ABC News, ex-officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr. were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges relating to the "deprivation of rights under color of law, including excessive force and failure to intervene as well as deliberate indifference, and conspiracy to witness-tamper."
The former officers are already facing state felony charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated kidnapping, following the January 10 death of Nichols, 29. They pleaded not guilty in February to the state charges.
Police footage shows the officers repeatedly punched, kicked, and hit Nichols with a baton during a traffic stop on January 7. Nichols was hospitalized following the beating but ultimately succumbed to his injuries three days later.
The five officers, who were a part of the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit, which has since been deactivated, were fired after an internal investigation into the deadly traffic stop.
Blake Ballin, an attorney representing Mills in his state case, said the federal indictment “is not unexpected” and his client will defend himself against the new charges as he is in state court, per WPRI.
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