A sixth Memphis police officer was relieved of his duty for his involvement in the Tyre Nichols fatal beating.
Preston Hemphill was relieved of his duty pending investigation.
ABC 24 reported:
A sixth Memphis Police officer involved in the arrest which led to the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7 has been relieved of duty, a spokesperson for the department confirmed with ABC24 Monday.
According to Memphis Police, Officer Preston Hemphill has been relieved of duty during an ongoing investigation.
Hemphill was hired in 2018.
Memphis Police said additional information would be available on their social media platforms once it became available.
One previously unnamed officer was shown on video during MPD’s initial confrontation with Nichols, pulling him from his car forcefully while hitting him on the ground with a Taser, later stating, “I hope they stomp his a**” after Nichols escaped.
MPD did not confirm whether this officer was Hemphill.
Authorities on Friday evening released bodycam footage of five Memphis police officers beating motorist Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop.
Five ex-Memphis police officers were charged with second-degree murder and kidnapping on Thursday in the death of a black motorist.
The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – were fired on Friday after the motorist, Tyre Nichols, died following a violent confrontation during a January 7 traffic stop.
