A Tennessee sheriff has suspended two deputies and ordered a new investigation into Tyre Nichols’ death after personally reviewing the sickening video.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. said in a statement: ‘Having watched the videotape for the first time tonight, I have concerns about two deputies who arrived on the scene following the physical confrontation between police and Tyre Nichols.
‘I have launched an internal investigation into the conduct of these deputies to determine what occurred and if any policies were violated,’ he added. ‘Both of these deputies have been relieved of duty pending the outcome of this administrative investigation.’
A street cam video of the altercation, which began over a traffic stop, shows two officers, who have not been identified, arriving at the scene after five had beaten and pinned Nichols, 29, to the ground.
The group of officers could be seen standing around the injured man, first bumping each other as he lays twitching on the ground before an eighth officer appears and paramedics arrive.
The video shows two more officers arriving at the scene of Tyre Nichols brutal beating, as the group of cops just stand around ignoring the man writhing in pain
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. has suspended two deputies who responded to the scene after reviewing the video that left him ‘sad and angry’
Nichols died in the hospital after he was tased, kicked and punched in the head, struck three times with a metal baton, and twice sprayed with pepper spray in the face
The brutal beating caught on police body camera and a street surveillance camera show the group of officers delivering brutal kicks and sucker punches to Nichols as he lies on the ground.
After they handcuff and pin him to the ground, three other officers arrive and the group can be seen standing by as Nichol is left dragged and propped up to sit.
The injured man, however, is unable to keep himself sitting and writes and twitches, but the officers do not tend to him, and two are seen fist-bumping each other by the hood of the patrol car.
Another pair is also seen congratulating each other with a fist-bump, continuing to ignore the flailing Nichols.
Bonner has condemned the attack that left Nichols dead after he was tased, kicked and punched in the head, struck three times with a metal baton, and twice sprayed with pepper spray in the face.
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‘I am a second-generation law enforcement officer, and I am troubled by what we all saw captured on video,’ Bonner said in a statement. This horrible incident tarnished the badge that I wear, and many other good officers wear every day.
‘I will do everything in my power to prevent another parent from having to bury their child in such a senseless and tragic way.
‘My heartfelt condolences are expressed to the family and friends of Tyre Nichols. I am sad and angry about his tragic death,’ he added.
As the investigation continues over Nichols death, his stepfather Rodney Wells and his lawyer, famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, said the video demonstrates that other first responders should be reprimanded.
Tyre Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells (above) has called for criminal charges against the paramedics who appeared to fail to render aid after he was savagely beaten by police
Wells called for criminal charges against the paramedics who appeared to stand by after his stepson was savagely beaten, while Crump questioned by a white officer who was present at the beginning of Nichols’ traffic stop hasn’t been charged yet.
‘Everyone – the fire department, paramedics that came out that stood around and didn’t do anything – they’re just as guilty,’ Wells told ABC News following the release of the video.
‘Everyone that was active in the whole scene, the whole video, should be charged,’ he added.
The five cops who were fired and charged over Nichols’ death are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr, and Justin Smith.
They are charged with second-degree murder, assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis has said other officers are under investigation for their part in the arrest.
Davis described the five officers’ actions as ‘heinous, reckless and inhumane.’
Charged with second degree murder are (top, left to right) Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and (bottom, left to right) Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith
