A former police officer involved in the death of a black man in Memphis has pleaded guilty to charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice. The officer, Desmond Mills Jr, was captured on video along with a group of other officers, kicking and punching Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop. Mr. Nichols died three days later.
As part of a plea deal, Mills has agreed to cooperate in the case against the other four officers involved. Those officers have pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
In a trial scheduled for May 2024, the remaining officers will also face federal civil rights charges. The incident, which occurred on January 7, involved the officers stopping Mr. Nichols on suspicion of reckless driving and then subjecting him to physical abuse. The officers have been fired by the Memphis Police Department.
Video footage of the incident was released, resulting in widespread protests against police brutality across the US. The officers’ actions have sparked a lawsuit from the family of Mr. Nichols, accusing the city of negligent hiring practices and inadequate training. The officers were part of a special unit called Scorpion, deployed to high-crime areas.
Desmond Mills Jr, as part of his plea deal, has admitted to repeatedly striking Mr. Nichols, failing to intervene when others joined in the beating, neglecting to provide medical assistance, and making false statements to investigators. Both federal and state prosecutors have recommended a 15-year prison sentence for Mills.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy praised Mills’ cooperation, stating that it will help bring all those responsible to justice and identify areas for police department reform. The remaining defendants could face life imprisonment on federal charges and up to 60 years in prison for state second-degree murder charges.
