Former Memphis police Officer Patrick Ferguson is accused of murdering a man while on duty and dumping his body in a river. (WMC/YouTube)
A federal grand jury in Tennessee indicted a now-former cop who, while on duty, allegedly kidnapped a man from his home and took the victim to his patrol car where he shot him to death.
Former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson, with the help of a buddy, then took the man’s body and dumped it in a river, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee said.
Ferguson, 32, already is facing state charges of murder, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, official misconduct and official oppression for the January 2021 incident. On Wednesday, a federal grand jury issued an eight-count indictment with charges including federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses.
Prosecutors say on Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson went to the home of Robert Lee Howard Jr., 30, and abducted him at gunpoint. Ferguson then allegedly took Howard to the back of his patrol car where he shot him in the head, killing him. The disgraced cop then allegedly conspired with 31-year-old Joshua M. Rogers to get rid of Howard’s body. They allegedly dumped Howard into the Wolf River in Memphis.
Howard’s girlfriend reported him missing the next day. Authorities recovered Howard’s body on Jan. 10. Cops arrested Ferguson and Rogers a few days later. A state grand jury indicted them in May 2021. The federal grand jury also indicted Rogers for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal obtained a probable cause affidavit that said investigators found that Ferguson made searches on his phone about how to clean up crime scenes and destroy evidence. He also bought cinder blocks, chains and padlocks that were used in the disposal of Howard’s body, the affidavit reportedly said.
Cops haven’t given a motive for the killing.
Ferguson is awaiting trial on the state charges. Howard’s family also is suing Ferguson in federal court, claiming unlawful seizure, false arrest and excessive force. That case also remains ongoing.
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