The family of Tyre Nichols is determined to get justice for him. This Wednesday, a lawsuit was filed in federal court in Memphis by lawyers representing Nichols’s mother, RowVaughn Wells. She’s suing the city of Memphis, individual officers, and emergency medical personnel involved in the horrific death of Nichols, a Black Tennessee man who died after being beaten by five police officers.
The $500M lawsuit accuses Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis of starting a unit called Scorpion that officials said would target repeat violent offenders in high-crime areas. The lawsuit claims the Scorpion unit not only used “extreme intimidation, humiliation, and violence” but “disproportionately focused on and targeted young Black men.” The five officers involved in the incident who were later charged with beating Nichols were members of the unit, police previously said. Following Nichols’ death, the unit was disbanded.
“The City of Memphis, through the Memphis Police Department, maintained a custom of tolerance for SCORPION Officers’ unreasonable search and seizure of individuals, use of excessive force, and the violation of the Fourth Amendment prior to the violation of Tyre Nichols’ constitutional rights and death,” the complaint states.
In addition the the city of Memphis, and Davis, the lawsuit clearly names the five officers who have been fired and charged, another officer who has been fired but not charged, and an additional officer who retired before he could be fired as defendants. On top of that, it also names three Memphis Fire Department employees who were fired after officials said they failed to give aid to Nichols as he was on the ground, struggling to breathe.
More On His Death
As we previously reported, Nichols died January 7, just three days after he was brutally beaten by the officers. Police initially claimed he was suspected of reckless driving when he was arrested… but no verified evidence of a traffic violation has emerged. Officers also claimed a “confrontation occurred” during the traffic stop before Nichols attempted to flee the scene. However, when they caught up with Nichols, they began to kick him, punch him and hit him with a baton as he screamed for his mother.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith are charged with second-degree murder in Nichols’ death. They have pleaded not guilty.
“This landmark lawsuit is not only to get the justice for Tyre Nichols in the civil courts but it is also a message that is being sent to cities all across America who have these police oppression units that have been given the license by city leaders to go in and terrorize Black and brown communities,” attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Nichols family, said at a news conference this Wednesday.
The US Department of Justice is currently reviewing the Memphis Police Department. Meanwhile, the DOJ also said it would separately review specialized units across the US and create a guide for their use in addition to its review of the Memphis PD, the news site notes.
RELATED: Officer Demetrius Haley Reportedly Sent Photos Of Tyre Nichols To Six People After Violent Assault
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