Four of the five former Memphis police officers charged with murder and other crimes in the slaying of 29-year-old Tire Nichols posted bail and were released from jail early Friday, according to jail records.
Desmond Mills and Justin Smith each posted their $250,000 bail and were released Thursday night, while Emmitt Martin and Tadarrius Bean were released at 4 a.m. Friday. Demetrius Haley has not posted his $350k bail and remains in jail.
On Friday night, the Memphis Police Department will release body camera footage showing police interaction during a traffic stop on January 7. The images have been described as “appalling” and “appalling”.
Mills, Smith and Bean each had $250,000 bond, while Martin and Haley had $350,000 bond.
TIRE NICHOLS VIDEO: POLICE CHIEF WARNS MEMPHIS NOT TO REACT VIOLENTLY AFTER RELEASE OF BODY CAMERA IMAGES
Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 18 for their roles in the arrest of the late Tire Nichols.
(Memphis Police Department)
The former officers, all black, face charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
At least two of the officers, including Martin and Mills, are expected to plead “not guilty,” according to their attorneys.
“No one out there that night intended for Tire Nichols to die,” said Martin’s attorney, William Massey.
A portrait of Tire Nichols is displayed at a memorial service on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee.
(AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said during a news conference Thursday that the officers “bear all responsibility” for Nichols’ death.
SHELBY COUNTY DA SAYS ALL 5 OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE, VIDEO WILL BE RELEASED FRIDAY NIGHT
Before the release of the body camera footage, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis warned people not to react violently after viewing it.
“This is not just a professional failure, this is a failure of basic humanity toward another individual,” Davis said Wednesday, saying the five officers and others involved in his death “failed our community and they failed the family nichols. That’s beyond unfortunate.”
“I hope our citizens will exercise their First Amendment right to protest, demand action and results. But,” he continued, “we need to make sure that our community is safe in this process.”
MAJOR US CITIES PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE VIOLENCE AFTER ATLANTA RIOTS AHEAD OF TIRE NICHOLS VIDEO
He added: “This is not a reflection of the good work that many Memphis police officers do every day. What comes next is our defining moment. What we all do next may be that reflection of our character.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Nichols’ family, reviewed the body camera footage, calling it “appalling.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference with the family of Tire Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, January 23, 2023.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“It is deplorable. It’s awful. It’s violent,” Crump added Monday.
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The images are expected to be released around 7 p.m. ET on Friday.
