Family of Tyre Nichols Files Lawsuit Against City of Memphis and Five Police Officers for Alleged Brutality and Misconduct

A lawsuit was filed against the City of Memphis and five police officers on Wednesday, accusing them of causing the death of Tyre Nichols. The suit claims that the officers were part of a special unit called Scorpion, which used aggressive tactics to target young Black men in high-crime areas.

The suit alleges that the Memphis Police Department allowed the Scorpion unit to operate unchecked, despite complaints from other residents who had been targeted. It claims that the unit used “extreme intimidation, humiliation, and violence” against its targets, and that this is why Nichols was targeted.

The suit also accuses Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis of creating the Scorpion unit to target repeat violent offenders. It claims that Davis was aware of the unit’s aggressive tactics, but failed to take action to stop them.

The family of Tyre Nichols is seeking damages for his death, as well as punitive damages against the officers and the City of Memphis. The lawsuit is the latest in a series of cases alleging police brutality and misconduct in Memphis.