A sixth police officer who was involved in the arrest of Tyre Nichols earlier this month has been suspended according to reports.
A spokesperson for the Memphis Police Department identified the officer as Preston Hemphill, 26, who was hired in 2018. He is suspended from duties pending an ongoing internal investigation by the MPD.
“Officer Hemphill is relieved of duty. This is an ongoing investigation. Once additional information is available, we will update our social media platforms,” a department spokesperson said.
Nichols, 29, died at hospital on Jan. 10 after he was brutally beaten during a traffic stop by officers in the Memphis Police Department’s specialized ‘SCORPION’ unit three days prior. The department has since disbanded the unit.
Hemphill’s attorney, Lee Gerald confirmed in a statement that his client was the officer seen on bodycam video firing a stun gun at Nichols during his initial stop and could be heard saying twice, “I hope they stomp his ass.”
“I can confirm that I represent Memphis Police Officer Preston Hemphill who was the third officer at the initial stop of Mr. Nichols. Video One is his bodycam footage. As per departmental regulations Officer Hemphill activated his bodycam. He was never present at the second scene. He is cooperating with officials in this investigation,” Gerald said.
Five other officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — were fired after an investigation found that they had violated the department’s use of force policy.
The officers were also charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.
Hemphill was placed on administrative leave the same day as the other five officers. He has not been charged with a crime.
Asked why the department is just announcing disciplinary action against Hemphill, a spokesperson told NBC News: “The other 5 officer’s names were announced when they were charged departmentally, then subsequently charged criminally. Officer Hemphill has not received departmental or criminal charges. As we have advised, the investigation is ongoing. Officer Hemphill’s name came out after it was heard in the video from the Tyre Nichols scene, that was released Friday evening. We are simply confirming that he is relieved of duty.”
What makes this so sad…is this is not how most Americans feel about blacks. They are sickened by these actions. Most people abhor this kind of senseless abuse.
What I cant fathom, as white female, why would these black officers do this to a Blackman?
They could have taken a couple minutes to check his story out. He didn’t present himself as a thug at all. nicely dressed, well spoken
Dad, son and employee!
Anyone being pulled over will ask what did I do? The answer should not be to be dragged out of his car. He became afraid for his life, once he saw how they were treating him.
He was in shock and tried to protect himself and even ran! Not one of them stopped to think about what they were doing. How could they enjoy seeing a man being beaten to death? They are sick men.