Memphis Nichols video released, family pleads calm

As a precaution, Memphis-area schools canceled all after-class activities and postponed an event scheduled for Saturday morning. Other early closures included the city power company’s community offices and the University of Memphis.

Andre E. Johnson, pastor of Gifts of Life Ministries and a local activist, noted that past protests in Memphis have largely been peaceful. He said the anticipation of unrest is different from when white people stormed the U.S. Capitol or “show up at any statehouse with weapons,” and said people in the community see the contrast. “Any time any violence has ever happened in this city, more than likely it has come from the police,” he said. “I pray that the police tonight will not be violent, and I pray that all goes well.”

On Thursday night, several dozen supporters joined Rodney and RowVaughn Wells for a candlelight vigil and prayer service at a Memphis Skate park. Nichols, who had a 4-year-old son, was an avid skateboarder. Activists and clergy led the group in prayer. Afterward, skaters rode their boards as the Wells family watched.

Court records showed that all five former officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith — were taken into custody. The officers each face

a minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

The officers were taken into custody following a joint investigation by the FBI and the local police department. The investigation began several months ago, after several complaints were made against the officers for their alleged involvement in criminal activity.

The investigation revealed that the officers had been involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and racketeering. The officers are also suspected of having ties to organized crime groups.

The officers were arrested in a pre-dawn raid on their homes and were taken into custody without incident. They are currently being held without bail, pending trial.

The police department has expressed its commitment to rooting out corruption within its ranks and has pledged to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. This case has caused a lot of public outrage and is seen as a major blow to the department’s reputation.

The District Attorney’s office has stated that they will be seeking the maximum penalty for the officers, in order to send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. The case is still ongoing and a trial date has not been set yet.

Source: Cleveland 19