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(Trends Wide) — “Ghastly”, “Savage”, “Inhuman”.
Although video of the Memphis arrest that led to the hospitalization and death of a 29-year-old black man has not yet been released, some family members and law enforcement officials have seen the footage, and have shared their disgust and horror at what they describe as a merciless beating by the policemen.
According to authorities, Tire Nichols died on January 10 as a result of injuries sustained while fleeing a traffic stop three days earlier. Five Memphis Police Department officers at the scene of the arrest, all also black, were fired and charged with crimes related to Nichols’s injuries and arrest, including manslaughter.
“It was an absolute beating, shamelessly, non-stop beating this young man for three minutes,” said Nichols family attorney Antonio Romanucci, comparing Nichols to “a human piñata.”
Footage of the arrest is expected to be released to the public this Friday afternoon, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
The family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, said the video “will evoke strong, very strong emotions”, reiterating repeated calls by both Nichols’ family and police for any demonstrations or protests over Nichols’ death to be held. in a peaceful way.
Here’s what authorities and people close to Nichols have said about the video recordings ahead of their publication.
The family shocked by the images
On January 7, Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving, according to police. Although many details of the stop have not yet been released, authorities say pepper spray was used after an altercation and that Nichols fled on foot before being hit again by officers.
The serious injuries sustained by Nichols during the arrest occurred during a second confrontation, according to Mulroy, who told Trends Wide’s Erin Burnett on Thursday that officers were already “very upset” from their initial interaction with Nichols. The images do not show the start of the encounter, she added.
Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, who viewed the footage Monday with his family, lawyers and police officers, said it was clear Nichols “feared for his life” and ran.
“He didn’t run because he was trying to get rid of any drugs, any guns, anything like that. He ran because he was in fear for his life. And when you watch the video, you’ll see why he was in fear for his life.”
RowVaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother, said at a vigil on Thursday that she wants supporters to demonstrate peacefully after seeing the video.
“When that recording comes out tomorrow, it’s going to be horrible,” Wells said. “I haven’t seen it, but from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be horrible.”
Crump said Monday that Wells was unable to finish watching the first minute of the recording after hearing Nichols ask: “What did I do?” In the video, Nichols can be heard calling his mother three times, according to Crump.
Romanucci told Trends Wide’s John Berman on Thursday that viewers are “going to have to be prepared” for disturbing scenes in the video.
“It was an MMA fight, except there was only one side that knew MMA,” Romanucci said. “Tyre was defenseless, he was defenseless. He was pinned down.”
“It’s appalling. It’s deplorable. It’s inhumane,” Crump said of the video. “It’s violent. It’s problematic on every level.”
Nichols suffered “extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,” according to preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by family attorneys. Trends Wide requested a copy of the full autopsy report.
The authorities, shocked, rush to convict the agents involved
After the second confrontation with responding officers, there was “a certain period of waiting time afterward” before Nichols was taken by ambulance for medical attention, Mulroy said at a news conference Thursday announcing the charges. penalties.
When asked by Trends Wide about the delay in treatment by the authorities, Mulroy said: “There was a period of time elapsed, but I think if they see the video they can judge for themselves.”
Two members of the city’s fire department who were part of Nichols’ “initial patient care” have also been relieved of their duties, according to a department spokesperson.
Mulroy also noted that the most shocking part of the video to him “is how many different incidents of unwarranted force occurred sporadically by different individuals over a long period of time.”
On Wednesday, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said of the arrest: “This incident was egregious, reckless and inhumane, and in the interest of transparency, when the video is released in the next few days, you will see for yourself.” .
“I hope they feel the same as the Nichols family. I hope they feel outraged at the disregard for basic human rights, as our police officers have sworn to do the opposite of what is happening on the video,” he said.
“I hope our citizens will exercise their First Amendment right to protest to demand action and results,” he added. “But we have to ensure the safety of our community in this process.”
The head of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) described the death of Tire Nichols as “absolutely appalling” and “criminal” at a press conference on Thursday.
“This simply should not have happened. I have been a police officer for over 30 years. I have dedicated my life to this profession, and I am heartbroken. Frankly, I am shocked. I am disgusted by what I saw and what we have learned through our exhaustive and thorough investigation,” said David Rausch, director of the BIT.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said he was “saddened and angry for the family of Tire Nichols,” adding that proper legal procedures needed to be followed before the video footage could be released, as well as the family having the opportunity to see them first.
“I am also upset by the many good men and women of the Memphis Police Department who dedicate their lives to serving our citizens,” Strickland said of the arrest. “We must all work to win back the public’s trust and work together to heal the wounds these events have caused.”
— Trends Wide’s Shimon Prokupecz, Nick Valencia, Pamela Kirkland, Sharif Paget, Tina Burnside, Rebekah Riess, Jamiel Lynch, Alisha Ebrahimji and Andy Rose contributed to this report.
