Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death Following An Arrest Prompts Requests For A State Probe

Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death: The murder of a man following an altercation with Memphis police officers during a traffic check has triggered community outrage and a request for a state police probe from local prosecutors. According to the Memphis Police Department, Tyre D. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was detained on January 7 after being pulled over for careless driving. Nichols allegedly left the car on foot after “a disagreement occurred,” according to the police.

After another altercation, officers pursued Nichols on foot and eventually caught up with him, according to police who gave little specifics. The suspect then complained of experiencing shortness of breath, which prompted the request for an ambulance, according to the Memphis Police Department. After that, Nichols was admitted to a hospital with respiratory problems and was given the status of critical. Nichols passed away on January 10, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Memphis police did not specify which officer actions would have led to Nichols’ respiratory problems in a statement on January 8. The nature of the “confrontation” is still unknown, and Nichols’ exact reason and method of passing are still unknown. Authorities are currently looking into allegations of “use of force” against Memphis police. Due to the suspect’s serious injuries, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy requested that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation look into the event, according to the district attorney’s office.

Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death
Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death

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Ben Crump, a human rights lawyer, announced he is defending the family of Nichols in a statement on Monday. Crump demanded that the body camera and surveillance footage from the traffic stop be made available by the Memphis police. If agencies don’t act promptly to be transparent, “this kind of in-custody death kills community trust,” Crump said. Community members protested Saturday outside a police station close to the location of the traffic stop and released balloons in Nichols’ honor.

It was also the first time the Nichols family spoke in front of the public. Keyana Dixon, Nichols’ older sister, indicated that if he fled, it was out of fear. “I already knew what he believed; a traffic stop is meant to be a traffic stop for anyone, and they were driving an unmarked car. We just learned that. They were wearing hoodies and weren’t even in a Memphis Police vehicle; it was unmarked. The family’s account of the events could not be independently verified, and officials were unable to validate it because of the active investigation.

Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death
Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death

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Memphis police were already a part of four officer-involved shooting investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations in December. The three gunshots resulted in deaths. An ambulance was called after the suspect complained of experiencing shortness of breath, at which point Nichols was brought to a hospital in critical condition, according to police. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation stated last week that he “succumbed to his injuries” on Tuesday without elaborating on what those injuries were.

An independent inquiry into the use of force by Memphis police officers involved in Nichols’ arrest is being carried out by the state agency. The investigation was requested by Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, according to bureau officials, who noted that owing to the seriousness of Nichols’ condition, police notified Mulroy’s office.

Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death
Community Outrage Tennessee Driver Death

The Memphis Police Department stated it is taking “rapid and intentional steps to ensure openness, accountability, public trust, and legitimacy within our community” while the state inquiry is ongoing. The Memphis Police Department stated in a news release on Sunday that the department is launching its own internal administrative inquiry into possible policy violations by the officers who detained Nichols.

The department anticipates that the process will be finished by the end of this week. You may keep yourself up to date with all of the most recent news by visiting our website, Talkxbox.

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