No prices for ex-officer who hit Tyre Nichols with stun gun

MEMPHIS, Tenn.. — A former Memphis police officer who hit Tyre Nichols with a stun gun throughout a site visitors cease that preceded Nichols’ brutal beating by different officers will not be charged criminally, a prosecutor mentioned on Tuesday.

Shelby County District Legal professional Steve Mulroy mentioned his workplace did an intensive investigation of Preston Hemphill’s position within the arrest, reviewing hours of physique digital camera footage and interviewing witnesses a number of instances.

“Certainly not do we recommend the conduct of Officer Hemphill at that first site visitors cease … however we don’t imagine that felony prices are applicable,” Mulroy mentioned.

Hemphill was fired Feb. 3 after an inner Memphis Police Division investigation confirmed he violated a number of division insurance policies for his position within the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital three days later. 5 different officers have pleaded not responsible to second-degree homicide in Nichols’ dying.

Nichols was overwhelmed after police stopped him for what they mentioned was a site visitors violation and he fled the cease. Video launched after strain from Nichols’ household exhibits officers holding him down and repeatedly punching, kicking and placing him with a baton as he screamed for his mom.

Hemphill was not current for the preliminary site visitors cease nor when different officers forcibly eliminated Nichols, 29, from his car and put him on the bottom, Mulroy mentioned.

“He needed to make his choices primarily based on what he knew, or what he thought was taking place, and following the lead and in assist of the opposite officers,” Mulroy mentioned. “He acted on restricted data in a matter of seconds on the course and in assist of the opposite officers. He didn’t pursue Mr. Nichols, was not current on the second incident the place the precise beating occurred that led to Mr. Nichols dying.”

Hemphill’s physique digital camera confirmed that from the very starting of the site visitors cease he and two different officers approached Nichols with power that was disproportionate for the alleged offense of reckless driving, in response to an announcement from the disciplinary listening to that occurred earlier than he was fired.

Together with breaking guidelines relating to the usage of a stun gun, Hemphill was additionally fired for violations of non-public conduct and truthfulness, police have mentioned.

Mulroy mentioned Hemphill has cooperated absolutely with the investigation into Nichols’ dying.

Attorneys for Nichols’ household mentioned in an announcement that they’re supportive of the choice to not pursue prices due to Hemphill’s cooperation.