Family of Tire Nichols asks for calm upon police video release

The family of a man who formerly lived in Sacramento and was killed while in police custody in Memphis, TN earlier this month is calling for calm ahead of the expected release of body camera footage of the incident. Authorities said 29-year-old Tire Nichols was beaten by five now-former Memphis police officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Three days later, Nichols died in the hospital. According to prosecutors, all five ex-officers face charges in relation to Nichol’s death, including-second degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault.Lawyers for Tyre Nichols’ family have compared the body camera video to the infamous 1991 Los Angeles Police beating of Rodney King. The footage of Nichols’ arrest and beating is expected to be released Friday. At a vigil in Memphis, loved ones urged communities across the country to remain peaceful, despite the contents of the video.”It’s going to be horrific, but I want each and every one of you to protest in peace. I don’t want us burning up our cities, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” Rowvaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother, said.Nichols was raised in Sacramento and used to live here, and he still has family in the area. Earlier this week, KCRA 3 spoke to Nichols’ brother Jamal Dupree about what the family said the video shows, including what they call the brutal actions of the former officers.”Just listening to how my stepfather played it out, it was horrific. It was just crazy. It was bad,” Dupree told KCRA 3 on Monday. “They didn’t care at all, and the thing that bothers me the most… out of all five officers, nobody decided to say, ‘Hey, this is not cool. Let’s back up here.’”Law enforcement agencies across the country are bracing for potential protests in response to the release of the body camera footage. KCRA 3 reached out to the Sacramento Police Department about its plans. They sent a statement, which reads, in part, “While we do not have any specific information regarding planned protests or demonstrations in Sacramento, we remain prepared to respond to any and all needs of our community. The Sacramento Police Department values ​​freedom of speech and expression and remains committed to protecting peoples’ First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and protest. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”Dr. Kristee Haggins, a clinical psychologist and the founder of Safe Black Space, said seeing the video – another instance of a Black body being brutalized – may be traumatizing for many people. She said people need to evaluate if they should watch the video. If someone decides to view it, Haggins said they should have a safe space around them.” Think about how to maybe be with support folks or in community or with your family, when or if you choose to watch it. Thinking about an outlet that you might want to go to immediately or access later. That might mean picking up the phone or getting onto a call with folks who you care about,” Haggins said.Haggins said the primary service that Safe Black Space provides is its community healing circles. She said working through the trauma of yet another Black man being attacked by police is a journey of healing that will take time and care, and showing support to those who are feeling impacted is key.”It’s not like there’s a quick fix or there’s an easy answer to it,” dr. Haggins said. “Part of it just allowing that person to be where they are, to check in about how are they doing and what do they need and knowing that the reactions that they are having are real, and so not being dismissive of them.”The five former officers in Memphis: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired after they violated department policies during the Jan. 7 traffic stop that led to Nichols’ death, Police Chief CJ Davis said.In a statement, attorneys for Nichols’ family said: “The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre. This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure that this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop. This tragedy meeting the absolute definition of a needless and unnecessary death. Tyre’s loved ones’ lives were forever changed when he was beaten to death, and we will keep saying his name until justice is served.”According to the legal team for Nichols’ family, lawyers and the family will hold a press conference in Memphis on Friday at 11 am central time.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The family of a man who formerly lived in Sacramento and was killed while in police custody in Memphis, TN earlier this month is calling for calm ahead of the expected release of body camera footage of the incident.

Authorities said 29-year-old Tire Nichols was beaten by five now-former Memphis police officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Three days later, Nichols died in the hospital. According to prosecutors, all five ex-officers face charges in relation to Nichol’s death, including-second degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault.

Lawyers for Tire Nichols’ family have compared the body camera video to the infamous 1991 Los Angeles Police beating of Rodney King. The footage of Nichols’ arrest and beating is expected to be released Friday. At a vigil in Memphis, loved ones urged communities across the country to remain peaceful, despite the contents of the video.

“It’s going to be horrific, but I want each and every one of you to protest in peace. I don’t want us burning up our cities, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” Rowvaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother, said.

Nichols was raised in Sacramento and used to live here, and he still has family in the area. Earlier this week, KCRA 3 spoke to Nichols’ brother Jamal Dupree about what the family said the video shows, including what they call the brutal actions of the former officers.

“Just listening to how my stepfather played it out, it was horrific. It was just crazy. It was bad,” Dupree told KCRA 3 on Monday. “They didn’t care at all, and the thing that bothers me the most… out of all five officers, nobody decided to say, ‘Hey, this is not cool. Let’s back up here.’”

Law enforcement agencies across the country are bracing for potential protests in response to the release of the body camera footage. KCRA 3 reached out to the Sacramento Police Department about its plans.

They sent a statement, which reads, in part, “While we do not have any specific information regarding planned protests or demonstrations in Sacramento, we remain prepared to respond to any and all needs of our community. The Sacramento Police Department values ​​freedom of speech and expression and remains committed to protecting peoples’ First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and protest. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”

dr Kristee Haggins, a clinical psychologist and the founder of Safe Black Space, said seeing the video – another instance of a Black body being brutalized – may be traumatizing for many people. She said people need to evaluate if they should watch the video. If someone decides to view it, Haggins said they should have a safe space around them.

“Think about how to maybe be with support folks or in community or with your family, when or if you choose to watch it. Thinking about an outlet that you might want to go to immediately or access later. That might mean picking up the phone or getting onto a call with folks who you care about,” Haggins said.

Haggins said the primary service that Safe Black Space provides is its community healing circles. She said working through the trauma of yet another Black man being attacked by the police is a journey of healing that will take time and care, and showing support to those who are feeling impacted is key.

“It’s not like there’s a quick fix or there’s an easy answer to it,” Dr. Haggins said. “Part of it just allowing that person to be where they are, to check in about how are they doing and what do they need and knowing that the reactions that they are having are real, and so not being dismissive of them.”

The five former officers in Memphis: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired after they violated department policies during the Jan. 7 traffic stop that led to Nichols’ death, Police Chief CJ Davis said .

In a statement, attorneys for Nichols’ family said:

“The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre. This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure that this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop. This tragedy meeting the absolute definition of a needless and unnecessary death. Tyre’s loved ones’ lives were forever changed when he was beaten to death, and we will keep saying his name until justice is served.”

According to the legal team for Nichols’ family, lawyers and the family will hold a press conference in Memphis on Friday at 11 am central time.