The brothers claim that one of the police officers charged in the death of Tire Nichols threatened to shoot them in the face
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Two Memphis brothers say Emmit Martin III, one of the police officers accused of beating Tire Nichols, 29, to death in the city, pulled a gun on them after finding them smoking marijuana while armed, the Memphis brother told him. official to one of them. : ‘I’ll blow your face off.’
Brothers Demarius Hervey, 27, and Glenn Harris, 24, made their claims in a new interview with nbc newsdays after shocking video was released showing Martin and four other officers brutally assaulting Nichols following a traffic stop on January 7.
Nichols was hospitalized and died on January 10. Martin was fired and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in connection with Nichols’ death along with Desmond Mills Jr., Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
A sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, has been relieved of duty in connection with the incident.
Brothers Demarius Hervey, 27, and Glenn Harris, 24, consulted a lawyer about the incident but were told that Internal Affairs likely would not take any action.
Officer Emmitt Martin III was fired and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in connection with Nichols’ death along with Desmond Mills Jr., Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
Hervey and Harris say they were smoking marijuana and had a legal firearm when they were surrounded by Memphis police officers at a gas station in August 2020.
Panicking, Hervey and Harris said they jumped into Harris’ car and drove off. The chase lasted for about two miles until Harris crashed. When he got out and tried to run again, that’s when Martin, 30, tackled him to the ground.
The couple’s mother, Stacy Harris, confirmed the brother’s version of events, adding that all of their children have been in trouble with the law.
His lawyer, Arthur Horne, told NBC that a few days after the confrontation, he told Harris that he could file a complaint with Internal Affairs, but that action is unlikely.
Tire Nichols succumbed to injuries sustained during the brutal assault on January 7.
In the wake of the Nichols’ video being released, Horne said the family wasn’t sure if they would follow up with a formal complaint.
In 2020, Harris was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, and evading arrest.
Hervey did not face charges, but NBC News reports that officers found a small bag of marijuana on his person.
The network, citing the complaint, said Harris “had more than $2,960 on his person,” as well as a gun with 15 rounds.
Speaking of Martin, Harris said: “I was wrong, he wasn’t supposed to have a gun pointed at me.”
Damage from the car chase in which Harris led police in August 2020
Later, Greg Harris was charged with having a weapon under the influence.
A WMC report de la hora said the incident occurred around 1:00 am on a Sunday morning.
The report stated that: “The accident sent several decorative flower pots flying across the road.” It also mentions that Harris was accused of having a weapon under the influence.
Martin had been with the Memphis Police Department since March 2018. His attorney, William Massey, has said his client intends to plead not guilty.
Massey told reporters: “No one out there that night intended for Tire Nichols to die.” Neither. Neither.’
He added: “I imagine police officers have a very difficult and dangerous job, and sometimes a thankless job. And it’s probably one of your worst fears that something like this would happen under your watch.
Video of the beating, which was made public last week, shows that many more people failed to help Nichols besides the five officers charged in his death.
The five police officers were fired on January 20, and on January 26 they were arrested and charged with Nichols’ murder, as well as kidnapping, assault, and misconduct.
Six officers were part of the so-called Scorpion unit, which targeted violent criminals in high-crime areas. Other Memphis residents who say they were also “brutalized” by the unit’s officers will speak up, according to a Crump statement.
Police Chief Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis said after the video was released that the unit had been disbanded.
Nichols’ death was the latest in a series of initial police accounts of the use of force that were later shown to downplay or omit violent and sometimes deadly encounters.
Memphis Police Department officers used a stun gun, baton and their fists while beating Nichols during the nightly arrest.
The video shows Nichols running from officers toward his home after he was pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving.
Video posted Friday shows the 29-year-old father calling for his mother and struggling with his injuries as he sits helplessly on the pavement.
The five officers chatted and walked for several minutes while Nichols remained on the ground, but other authorities were on the scene. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies have also been suspended without pay while their conduct is investigated.
Crump (pictured) said he and the Nichols family had spoken with President Joe Biden on Friday and urged him to use Nichols’ death to rally support for passage of the bill.
RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, Nichols’ mother and stepfather, accepted an invitation to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address from Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, who is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, according to Vincent Evans, a spokesman. for the group of black legislators.
Horsford told MSNBC on Tuesday: “I’ve invited the Nichols family as guests of the Congressional Black Caucus to be there that day to hear from the President and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to hear how we’re finally going to take action.” to keep our communities safe.’