Former Memphis police officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death plead not guilty

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Five former Memphis Police Department officers involved in the brutual beating of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop has pled not guilty Friday at their arraignment on criminal charges.

Memphis Police plead not guilty

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. each face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

The former officers are due back in court on May 1. Their attorneys entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.

Second-degree murder in Tennessee is considered a Class A felony punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison.

Traffic stop turns fatal

29-year-old Tyre Nichols was physically attacked by the officers charged following a traffic stop and brief pursuit on foot on January 7. Nichols was hospitalized after the beating and died three days later.

From left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean (Memphis Police Department)

The five officers, all of whom joined the Memphis Police Department in the last six years, were fired.

The officers were part of the department’s SCORPION unit, which was launched in 2021 to take on the increase in violent crime in Memphis. Shortly after the video footage of Nichols’ arrest was released, Memphis police announced the unit would be permanently deactivated as a sign the department was taking “proactive steps in the healing process for all impacted,” according to a January 28 statement.