Former Memphis Police Officer Involved in Fatal Beating of Tyre Nichols Will Not Face Criminal Charges

A former Memphis police officer who used a stun gun on Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop that preceded his fatal beating by other officers will not face criminal charges, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Tuesday.

Preston Hemphill was fired from the Memphis Police Department on February 3rd after an internal investigation showed he violated multiple department policies during the January 7th arrest of Nichols.

Mulroy said his office conducted a thorough investigation of Hemphill’s role in the incident, reviewing hours of body camera footage and interviewing witnesses multiple times. He said that while the conduct of Hemphill at the traffic stop was not endorsed, criminal charges were not appropriate.

The internal investigation found that Hemphill, who tased Nichols but was not involved in the beating during his arrest, violated a number of departmental policies.

Nichols’ death has sparked outrage in the Memphis community, with many calling for justice for the victim and accountability for the officers involved. The Shelby County District Attorney’s office has said it is continuing to investigate the other officers involved in the incident.