Memphis police release images fatal arrest Tire Nichols | Abroad

American media expects that the released videos, which together last about an hour, can shock the public. Several cities are preparing for protests in response to the images. On Thursday, five black officers involved, who had already been fired for using excessive force, were told they face charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault.

The first video shows how 29-year-old Tire Nichols, father of a four-year-old son and who works for courier company FedEx, is pulled over in his car by the Memphis police on January 7. The reason for this would be reckless driving, although that is not shown in the video. The images were made with a bodycam of one of the officers.

You can hear how the officers shout at him to get out of the car, as well as expletives and threats. “I didn’t even do anything,” Nichols says back. Subsequently, the officers can be seen working him to the ground, while Nichols shouts that he is innocent. An officer threatens to break his arm, while he is told to lie on his stomach.

Nichols manages to free himself and runs away, while the officers spray pepper spray and taser him. Nichols is no longer seen in the continuation of the first video. However, you can still hear how the white officer wearing the bodycam says he hopes that his colleagues Nichols will “stamp” when they find him.

The second video is from a stationary camera on the street, with no sound. Nichols can be seen lying on the ground, surrounded by several officers. Two of them try to restrain him, while a third kicks him on the head. A fourth hits him several times with what looks like a baton. Others slap him. After five minutes, Nichols is writhing on the floor and the attacks have stopped. He is taken to a police vehicle by the officers.

The following video has been recreated with a bodycam and shows the events from the street camera video from a different angle. The images show, among other things, the moment that the agents find him after his flight. The officer with the bodycam threatens him with pepper spray. Nicols is clearly frightened and calls out for his mother several times. Again, one of the officers can be seen hitting him several times with the baton. Another punches him in the face while his hands are held.

The last video, made with a bodycam, also shows the same events from the second and third video. On some of the images nothing can be seen and only some sound can be heard. Again, Nichols can be heard calling for his mother and expletives from the officers. It appears from the conversation between the officers that they seem to believe that Nichols was on drugs, although there is no evidence that he was.

When the image is visible again, it becomes clearer how Nichols leans against the police car. He appears injured and there is blood on his head. He doesn’t talk. An officer pulls him up and he can be seen alternately sitting, leaning against the car or sinking to the ground.

You can also hear how the officers talk to each other about the incident. Some of them claim that Nichols tried to take their gun. That is not visible in the images. You can also hear how they say that nothing was found in his car.

Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition. There he died of his injuries three days later. Five black officers were fired by the police force after the arrest for excessive force. They are charged with second-degree murder, comparable to manslaughter. They are also suspected of aggravated assault, kidnapping, misconduct and oppression, according to prosecutor Steve Mulroy. “All five are responsible.” According to the American newspaper The Washington Post they have since been released on bail.