Nichols photo case in court: 5 Memphis police officers plead not guilty in black man’s death

Memphis, Tenn. Five former Memphis police officers on Friday pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges in the violent arrest and murder of Tire Nichols.

Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmett Martin III, and Justin Smith made their first court appearances before a Shelby County Criminal Court judge. The officers were fired after an internal police investigation into the January 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in hospital three days later.

The officers pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. They are all out on bond. Their next session is scheduled for May 1.

“Be patient. Work with your lawyer.” Judge James Jones Jr. told the officers. “There may be some high feelings in this case.”

Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, and stepfather, Rodney Wells, were in court with their attorney, civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Nichols’ killing by police is the latest police killing that has led to nationwide protests and an intense public debate about police brutality. Nichols, 29, was black. All five officers charged in his death are also black.

Related: Documents showed that a Memphis police officer took pictures of the beaten Tyre Nichols and shared them with others

Police pulled Nichols over for an alleged traffic violation and he was pulled from his car by officers who used profanity, with at least one brandishing a gun. An officer struck Nichols with a stun gun, but Nichols fled toward his nearby home, according to video released by the city of Memphis.

Officers who were part of a crime suppression team known as the Scorpion caught up with Nichols and punched, kicked and clubbed him as he screamed for his mother.

After the beating, video showed the officers standing by and talking to each other as Nichols laying on the ground for his injuries. One of the officers’ video and records showed images of Nickels while he was backed up against an unmarked police car.

Authorities said Nichols was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, which left the beating site 27 minutes after emergency medical technicians arrived.

Police said Nichols was suspected of reckless driving, but no documented evidence of a traffic offense has emerged in public documents or in video footage. Memphis Police Superintendent Cereline “CJ” Davis said she saw no evidence to justify the stop or the officers’ response. She disbands the Scorpion unit, which she created in November 2021, after Nichols’ death.

Another white officer who was involved in the initial traffic stop was fired. An additional unidentified officer was suspended.

Three Memphis Fire Department employees who were present at the arrest site have been fired. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies who were also there were suspended without pay.

Nichols’ family, their attorneys, community leaders, and activists have called for changes within the Memphis Police Department on issues related to traffic stops, use of force, transparency, and other policies.

Some relatives and lawyers have praised Davis and the department for their quick response and say it should be the standard for other investigations into police brutality.