The footage shows officers violently arresting Nichols as he calls his mother. He was only 80 yards from his home, he said.
It took 26 minutes for a stretcher to reach the ground where Tyre left Nichols slumped to the ground. After a Memphis police officer was first seen kicking him in the face.
One of four videos authorities released Friday night shows the brutal attack on Nichols, 29. Who was pulled over during a traffic stop on Jan. 7 and died three days later.
The footage shows four vantage points: three videos from officers’ body-worn cameras. And a police surveillance camera mounted on a pole. The video shows Nichols being punched, hit with a stick, kicked in the face and sprayed with irritants. They caught him screaming for his mother and saying he was trying to get home.
And they show Nichols’ aggressive, rambling and sometimes inconsistent claims to police. Such as claims that he grabbed her arm while holding her down and pulled her to her feet. The police are also seen punching him while arresting him.
New York City’s police commissioner and top law enforcement. Officials across the country have expressed grief and outrage. At the treatment of Tyree Nichols at the hands of Memphis police.
In response to the release of the body camera and other videos Friday evening. NYPD Commissioner Keith L. Sewell said he and his department were outraged.
“The disrespectful actions shown in the released video are an unequivocal. Violation of our oath to protect the people. We serve and a failure of basic human decency,” Sewell said in a statement.
Other police chiefs, sheriffs and mayors also weighed in. Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz called the officers’ actions appalling. “What happened to Tyree Nichols should not have happened,” he said.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said in a video that he was ashamed and outraged. “As law enforcement we take an oath to protect and serve. The actions of that day violated, violated and tarnished that oath,” he said.
Some Democrats called on Friday to revive the defunct. George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as they reacted to the video of Tyree Nichols.’ deadly confrontation with Memphis police.
Vice President Kamala Harris led Democrats to call for the rollback of the 2021 bill. Which would have lowered federal felony penalties for officers, limited qualified. Immunity for law enforcement to shield them from liability. And limited police use of physical restraint methods. . At one point the bill included a database of fired officials to make. Transfers to unknown communities like chokeholds more difficult.
“Congress must act urgently and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.” He said in a statement late Friday.
President Joe Biden blamed Republicans in the U.S. Senate for blocking the bill in 2021. The year Congress considered a version authored by then-Rep. Karen Bass. This is commonly known as the George Floyd Act.
“Real and lasting change will only come. When we take action to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.” Biden said in a statement Friday responding to the video of Nichols’ death.
Bass, now the mayor of Los Angeles, did not directly call for reviving the law on Friday. But argued that its provisions were necessary in the wake of Nichols’ death.
“Officers need to know there will be consequences,” he said on TTN “The Readout with Joy Reid.” “They will lose their jobs. And also that they won’t be able to move to another department. That’s why we wanted to have a database, so that an officer can’t just move from one department to another.”
The LA County Democratic Party on Friday supported the idea of reviving the George Floyd Act.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Nichols.’ Family along with lawyer Antonio Romanucci. Called on lawmakers to introduce “Tye’s Law.” Which would need fellow officers to intervene if they witness physical abuse.
Speaking on TTN on Friday, Romanucci said he wants to see Congress “revive” the George Floyd Act.
“Washington let us hear,” he said. Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Haggerty released statements. About the video footage of Nichols’ beating. With Blackburn calling it “difficult to watch” and Haggerty saying. He was “deeply disturbed” by it.
The two Republican senators also added that they are in close contact with federal. And state agencies handling the investigation into the fatal collision.
“My office has been in contact with the DOJ and will continue to work with our federal. And local officials,” Blackburn said. “I’m confident Memphis
Two Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been relieved of duty pending. An administrative investigation. Into Nichols’ death, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. announced Friday night. After seeing the video for the first time.
Bonner said he was “concerned about the two deputies. Who attended the scene after the physical altercation. Between police and Tyre Nichols.” The investigation will look into their conduct to determine what happened.
“This horrific incident tarnishes the badge. That I. And many other good officers, wear every day. I will do everything in my power to prevent another parent from burying. Their child in such a senseless and tragic way.” An attorney for one of the five Memphis police officers.
Blake Ballin, attorney for Desmond Mills Jr., said that “Mr. Mills. And I will review these videos together at the appropriate time.”
“A thorough investigation of all available angles is required. Before providing context or comment,” Ballin said. “My heart goes out to the Nichols family and the entire city of Memphis. And we hope everyone will express themselves peacefully.”
Mills and four other now-former officers have been charged. With second-degree murder and other counts. Nichols, 29, was hospitalized and died three days after the Jan. 7 traffic stop and violent arrest. Body-worn camera video released between the violent traffic stop. And Nichols’ arrest shows a chaotic scene. With officers yelling at times conflicting commands.
In the first of four videos released, Nichols is on the ground by his side, while an officer holds one arm. While the second has his under him and another officer holds that arm to the ground.
While his arms were held and pinned, the officers yelled for him to put his hands. Behind his back or “I’m going to knock one of your — f— out!” and “lying down” and that he must be cast. At times they are shouting at each other simultaneously, the video shows.
“I’m on the ground!” Nichols can be heard saying in the video. Another officer shouted “On your stomach!” Moments later, an officer sprays an irritant spray in his face and he frees himself and runs.
In the third video, officers yell “Give me your hand,” as one officer grabs an arm and appears to be pulling him up.
The officer with that body camera then began hitting him. With a baton, yelling, “Give us your hands,” the video shows.
Overhead video from a pole-mounted camera. Which does not contain audio, shows officers holding Nichols. While another officer repeatedly punches him in the head or face until Nichols. still restrained by officers — collapses. New York City police have Arrested at least three people at a protest near Times Square. A police captain told TTN News.
One arrest was for damaging a police vehicle. The second was for punching a police officer. And the third was for an undisclosed reason, according to the official. Police are documenting damage to other vehicles as protesters weave through cars. They also confiscated bikes from protesters who were trying to avoid arrest.
The demonstration was peaceful with protesters calling for police accountability and chanting. “Say his name, Tyree Nichols” and “No justice, no peace.”
A protester named St. Court said he is pushing the Memphis Police. Department to return the money and provide more training to officers.
“If there had been more training, the tire might not have died,” Court said.
Others said the only way to bring about change was to get city leaders to pay attention.
“I’m just supporting the people’s movement against corruption.” Said Brian Iraheta, 29, of Memphis.
A protest organizer, Bejal Jupiter, came to Memphis from Atlanta. As part of the Party of Socialism and Liberation.
The protest caught some motorists by surprise. Kayte Ledbetter, 21, said she was nearing the end of a four-hour drive. From southern Arkansas when she encountered hundreds of protesters blocking Interstate 55.
“It was literally out of nowhere. I just stopped my car and saw a bunch of people. I thought they would protest really quickly and leave,” Ledbetter said.
