Federal investigators open civil rights investigation into Memphis man’s death after traffic stop

Federal authorities announced Wednesday that they are opening an investigation into Memphis police actions after a 29-year-old black man died three days after a traffic stop by police officers.

On Jan. 7, Tyre Nichols was arrested after police pulled him over for reckless driving, Memphis police said. According to the police, when the police approached him, there was a skirmish, after which Nichols fled the scene. Police also cited another “confrontation” between Nichols and officers before he was eventually caught and arrested.

“After that, the suspect complained of shortness of breath, after which an ambulance was called,” and Nichols was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said. On Jan. 10, he “succumbed to his injuries,” the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said last week, without describing the nature of those injuries.

Nichols’ death sparked protests over the weekend.

Kevin J. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced on Wednesday that a federal civil rights investigation had been launched into the incident.

“Last week, Tyre Nichols died tragically just days after he was implicated in an incident in which Memphis Police Department officers used force during his arrest,” Ritz said in a statement. “State officials have publicly announced that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating. In addition, the United States Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with the local FBI office in Memphis and the Division of Civil Rights of the Department of Justice, launched a civil rights investigation. “

Meanwhile, the Memphis Police Department is conducting its own internal administrative investigation into potential policy violations by the officers who arrested Nichols and expects the process to be completed by the end of this week, the department said in a statement. news release Sunday.

“After reviewing various sources of information regarding this incident, I have concluded that immediate and appropriate action must be taken,” Memphis Police Chief S. J. Davis said in a statement. “Today, the department is notifying the officers involved of upcoming administrative actions.”

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