Memphis Police disbands Scorpion unit after Tyre Nichols’ deadly beating as US protests develop

The Memphis Police Department has disbanded the Scorpion particular unit, whose officers are accused of murdering Tyre Nichols as protests towards police brutality grew throughout US cities.

People maintain indicators throughout a protest following the discharge of movies displaying Memphis law enforcement officials beating Tyre Nichols. (Reuters picture)

By India Today Web Desk: The police unit that included the 5 Memphis officers charged with the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols was disbanded as extra protests befell in US cities.

The police division mentioned in an announcement it was completely deactivating the SCORPION unit after the police chief spoke with members of Nichols’ household, neighborhood leaders and different officers. A police spokesperson confirmed all 5 officers have been members of the unit, as reported by Reuters.

The transfer got here a day after a harrowing video of the assault was launched by the Memphis authorities. The officers held the Black motorist down and struck him repeatedly as he screamed for his mom. Nichols was manhandled by police following his arrest for a visitors violation within the metropolis of Memphis.

ALSO READ | Video reveals Black man screaming for mom as US cops beat him to loss of life

PROTESTS AFTER NICHOLS’ DEATH

Cities throughout the nation braced for big demonstrations. However, protests in Memphis, New York City, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, have been scattered and non-violent. Nichols’ kinfolk have additionally urged supporters to protest peacefully.

“This young man, by definition of the law in this state, was terrorized. Not by one, not by two, but by five officers who we now know … acted in concert with each other,” mentioned legal professional Antonio Romanucci, who represents Nichols’ household.

Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as “heinous, reckless and inhumane,” and mentioned that her division has been unable to substantiate the reckless driving allegation that prompted the cease.

She informed The Associated Press in an interview that there isn’t a video of the visitors cease that reveals Nichols recklessly driving.

ALSO READ | Stomp his a**: US cops laughed, boasted as Black man they assaulted lay dying

BODYCAM FOOTAGE

Bodycam footage confirmed the officers savagely beating Nichols, a FedEx employee, for 3 minutes whereas screaming profanities at him. Nichols referred to as out for his mom earlier than his limp physique was propped towards a squad automotive and the officers exchanged fist-bumps. He died in hospital on January 10, three days after the January 7 assault.

All 5 officers concerned have since been fired and charged with second-degree homicide and different offenses.

The father of a four-year-old son, Nichols labored for FedEx, cherished skateboarding and taking images, and had a tattoo of his mom’s title on his arm.

The younger man’s loss of life drew fast comparisons with the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, one other Black man whose suffocation by a white police officer in Minneapolis was caught on movie.

ALSO READ | George Floyd’s 4-year-old grand-niece shot at, household claims ‘focused assault’

BIDEN EXPRESSES CONCERN

Speaking on the White House, President Joe Biden mentioned Friday that he was “very concerned” concerning the prospect of violence and referred to as for protests to stay peaceable.

Biden mentioned he spoke with Nichols’ mom earlier within the day and informed her that he was going to be “making a case” to Congress to cross the George Floyd Act “to get this under control.” The laws, which has been stalled, is supposed to sort out police misconduct and extreme drive and increase federal and state accountability efforts.

‘NEVER SHOULD’VE HAPPENED’

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday mentioned the footage of the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by 5 Memphis law enforcement officials is “horrible” and that the assault “never should have happened.”

“I thought it was terrible. He was in such trouble. He was just being pummeled. Now that should never have happened,” Trump mentioned in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, a day after authorities launched footage of the assault on the 29-year-old Black man after a visitors cease. Nichols died three days later.

ALSO READ | George Floyd died as a result of his respiration was restricted, US lung knowledgeable testifies throughout trial of ex-cops

Published On:

Jan 30, 2023