Three former Memphis police officers broke department rules when they failed to say that they punched and kicked Tyre Nichols on required forms submitted after the January 2023 fatal beating , a police lieutenant testified Friday.
Larnce Wright , who trained the officers, testified about the reports written and submitted by the officers, whose federal criminal trial began Monday. The reports, known as response-to-resistance forms, must include complete and accurate statements about what type of force was used, Wright said under questioning by a prosecutor, Kathryn Gilbert.
Jurors were shown the forms submitted by the three officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith. The three have pleaded not guilty to charges that they deprived the Nichols of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering. None of the forms described punching or kicking Nichols. Omitting those details violates department policies and opens the officers up to internal discipline and possible criminal charges.
Nichols, who was Black, died Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. Police video shows five officers, who also are Black, beating Nichols as he yells for his mother about a block from her home. Video also shows the officers milling about and talking as Nichols struggles with his injuries.
Wright said the three officers' reports were not accurate when compared with what was seen in the video.
