police officer relieved of duty

In a statement, the agency didn't identify the seventh officer or say whether the person would face departmental or criminal charges. The city of Memphis releases videos of Tyre Nichols' arrest and beating, Memphis deactivates the unit that fatally beat Tyre Nichols, as officials urge reform. The third employee, a lieutenant, remained in her vehicle, the department said. Read more, Families are struggling to pay high energy bills along with other rising costs for essential goods, like food and rent,that are increasing at a faster rate than the overall rate of inflation. This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 13:28. The group then marched through the streets of Columbus. Why is his identity and the role he played in Tyres death just now coming to light? he asked. Tuesday's incident comes just a few weeks after the shooting death of another Black man in Columbus. Gerald Herbert/AP [35] After Nichols was on the ground, the involved officers convened and shared their stories about the arrest. Nichols says, OK, dude, dang! at one point, and you guys are really doing a lot right now. The five fired officers were part of the so-called Scorpion unit, which taregeted violent criminals in certain areas. Two more police units arrived at the scene around 8:29p.m.[30] Footage showed that one officer who remained at the area of the traffic stop said, "I hope they stomp his ass". Authorities announced that a total of seven Memphis Police officers were relieved of duty this month after law enforcement brutally beat, Tased and . Memphis police and the Shelby County district attorney have said an investigation into the actions of law enforcement officers who reported to the scene of the arrest was ongoing. Davis, the police chief, said Saturday that the unit has been disbanded. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy's office said Monday that authorities worked extraordinarily swiftly but thoroughly to charge those whose offenses were plain and clear and directly contributed to the death of Mr. Nichols but that the investigation is far from over. The video does not show Hemphill's face. [49][50] The released videos also did not corroborate the officers' claim that Nichols reached for their weapons. Mohammad Asim, a government hospital spokesman, saidmore bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the mosque overnight and early on Tuesday, and several of those critically injured died in hospital. [48], The released videos did not corroborate the police report's claim that Nichols "started to fight" with officers, or even that he had been violent at all. Nichols, a father, was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later. ", Nichols had one officer pinning his arms behind his back, a second officer holding his handcuffed wrist, and a third officer punching Nichols' face. On Monday, the department confirmed that a sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, had been "relieved of duty," according to spokesperson Kimberly Elder. [84], U.S. Representative Steven Horsford invited Nichols' parents to attend President Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union Address. [29] The footage shows at least five punches to Nichols' face. The identities of the officer and the victim have not been released. A Columbus, Ohio, police officer has been relieved of duty following the fatal shooting of a 47-year-old Black man Tuesday, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced. A White officer, who was involved in the initial traffic stop and alleged tasing but not in the subsequently filmed assault and beating, is among those dismissed. Police announced the first five officers' termination on Jan. 20. They were hired from 2017 to 2020. After officers arrived, authorities said officers saw a garage door open and a man inside. Those five former officers were charged with second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault, prosecutors announced last week. An official autopsy has not been released. A sixth member of the Memphis Police Department has been relieved of his duties due to the deadly January 7 encounter between police officers and 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, police officials . [19][20] SCORPION unit officers drove unmarked cars and many dressed in plainclothes and wore bulletproof vests marked "Police". Following a traffic stop on January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old African man, was assaulted and beaten, allegedly by five African officers of the Memphis Police Department (MPD) in Tennessee who were all members of MPD's specialized police unit called SCORPION. Hemphill's attorney, Lee Gerald, said Hemphill was one of the three officers at the site where police initially pulled Nichols over. Nichols died on Jan. 10, just three days after the traffic stop. Continue Reading Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. More information will be shared as it develops. Ben Crump says the only known white Memphis police officer relieved of duty in Tyre Nichols' death pulled him from car and hit him with a Taser yet had his identity protected nmusumeci@insider . "We won't accept less going forward.". Neither of the responding officers turned their body cameras on until after the victim was shot. A timeline of events", "DOJ and FBI open civil rights investigation into the death of Memphis man who passed away after arrest", "5 Memphis officers fired after death of man who was hospitalized after his arrest", "Five MPD Officers fired after Nichols investigation", "5 Memphis police officers fired in death of Tyre Nichols", "Two Memphis Fire employees relieved of duty in connection to Tyre Nichols' death, internal investigation ongoing", "3 Memphis Fire employees terminated in Tyre Nichols investigation", "3 Memphis Fire Dept. The Memphis Police Department has confirmed that a seventh officer has been disciplined as part of the investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols, coming just hours after the department revealed that a sixth officer was facing discipline for the incident. [83] During the service, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Reverend Al Sharpton called for the approval of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and other police reforms. She is not the lead vocalist. Now, five were charged with murder because they were the main participants, but there were five or six other officers out there that didnt do anything to render any aid. As we have advised, the investigation is ongoing. investigating the circumstances of Nichols' death. News of Hemphill being placed on leave comes after the city released graphic footageof five officers beating Nichols on Jan. 7. police officers brutally beat, Tased and pepper sprayed 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, Nichols was hospitalized after the assault and. Our community is exhausted," Ginther said at a press conference Tuesday. Copyright 2023. "Taser was deployed," the officer says while breathing heavily. "Today we are more united than ever," they wrote, adding that Mr Monroy had "offered his life in the line of duty". Lawyers representing Nichols' family suggested Monday that Hemphill, the only known white officer in the interaction, was receiving special treatment. COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 12: A protester riding in a van watches as hundreds of protesters march through downtown Columbus on December 12, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. That means, Ginther said, authorities do have video of the shooting, but no audio of what the officer or victim said in the lead-up to the fatal encounter. [82], On the evening of January 31, 2023, a ceremony and press conference with Nichols' family was held at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech "I've Been to the Mountaintop" in 1968. Officers Haley, Martin, and Preston Hemphill[24] conducted the initial stop of Nichols' at the intersection East Raines Road and Ross Road,[25] with police vehicles surrounding his car on three sides. He was never present at the second scene," Gerald said. It is unclear what Hemphill's . JaMicheal Sandridge (left), Robert Long and Lt. Michelle Whitaker were terminated following the Memphis Fire Department's own internal investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. On January 30, authorities announced that two other police officers, Preston Hemphill, and an unidentified officer, had also been relieved of duty. He said body camera footage that the city of Memphis released and labeled "Video 1" came from Hemphill. Vasquez-Lasso was shot just 2 1/2 miles from his home. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Hemphill Has Been "Relieved Of Duty With The Other Officers" Memphis police Maj. Karen Rudolph shared a statement with reporters on Monday. She did not . Steven Montano is the man accused of gunning down Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso around 4:45 . Tyre Nichols case reignites conversations among lawmakers on federal police legislation, Tyre Nichols' death raises tough questions about race in policing, Demonstrators demand justice, accountability after 'horrific' Tyre Nichols video, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Join USA TODAY's online discussionabout Prince Harry's memoir today at 4 p.m. Officers yell at Nichols to lie on the ground and put his hands behind his back. 6 min read. The officer and victim have not been identified. But he's still being paid. [49], No death certificate with an official cause of death for Nichols or an official autopsy report has been issued by the Shelby County medical examiner's office as of February 1, 2023. This is a criminal assault under the pretext of law. Since ChatGPT debutedin November, the nation's largest school districtshave banned theartificial intelligencechatbot,concernedstudents will use the speedy text generator tocheat or plagiarize. The number of households receiving energy assistance during the current winter season rose an estimated 1.3 million, from 4.9 million to 6.2 million, the largest one-year increase since 2009 and the highest total rate of applications since 2011, according to policy organization National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was relieved of duty shortly after Nichols' Jan. 7 arrest, the police department announced. The incident began at 1:37 a.m. Tuesday, when officers were dispatched to a "non-emergency" disturbance call from a neighbor who allegedly saw a man sitting in an SUV for an extended period of time while repeatedly turning the vehicle on and off, according to the Columbus Department of Public Safety. It doesn't mean that something didn't happen, but there's no proof. A city representative corrected her earlier statement on the number of officers involved. On Monday, the department confirmed that a sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, had been "relieved of duty," according to spokesperson Kimberly Elder. [31], Officers Bean, Mills, and Smith caught up to Nichols at 8:33p.m. at Castlegate Lane and Bear Creek which is approximately a half a mile (.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}800 meters) away from the original traffic stop. That must be our focus going forward. The fallout from Tyre Nichols' fatal beating continued Monday when the Memphis Police Department said a seventh police officer who responded was relieved of duty. Within the next minute, Nichols appeared to be kicked by an officer. Update: January 31, 2023 This story was updated to add additional information from the Memphis Police Department about the start date of Hemphill's leave and the involvement of a seventh police officer. [34], By 8:37p.m., Nichols was handcuffed and limp; officers propped him against the side of a police car. Protesters gather for a demonstration for Casey Goodson Jr. in front of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio on December 12, 2020. Hemphill's body-worn camera captures the officer with a Taser in his hand, which he shortly thereafter uses on Nichols as he gets up to flee. [9][10][11], Nichols was raised in Sacramento, California, and moved to Memphis in 2020. An unidentified officer then shot the man, police said, who was taken to Riverside Hospital, where the victim was pronounced dead at 2:25 a.m. "The preliminary investigation indicates the man shot was visiting someone at the home. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to Axios, Hemphill was hired in 2018. Meanwhile, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said prosecutors could still file more criminal charges in connection to the fatal beating. All seven officers were initially suspended on Jan. 8, police said. Nichols was hospitalized after the assault anddied three days later. [30], On scene, video footage showed officers issued at least 71 commands over 13 minutes; The New York Times article described the orders as "often simultaneous and contradictory", and "sometimes even impossible to obey", citing an example where the officer who struck Nichols with a baton was shouting "Give us your hands! The investigation will look into their conduct to determine what happened and whether any policies were violated, Bonner said. The department also confirmed that a sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, had been relieved of duty. [49] For the second encounter between Nichols and police, the report claimed that Nichols resisted arrest by grabbing an officer's duty belt and another officer's vest, ignored their orders, leading to officers using pepper spray and striking Nichols with a baton; Nichols was eventually taken into custody after "several verbal" commands. City of Memphis [26] The New York Times reported that Nichols "does not appear to ever strike back" at the officers. Hemphill was hired in 2018. Hemphill was the third officer present at the stop and fired a stun gun at Nichols as he ran from officers on January 7th. "[86], On January 27, the police body-worn camera video footage of the incident was released to the public. They are all out on bail. The district attorney's office is asking for the public's patience as their work continues. ", "Memphis's Policing Strategy Was Bound to Result in Tragedy", "Legal analyst on significance of officers getting same charges in Nichols case", "Two More Memphis Police Officers Are Suspended in Tyre Nichols's Death", "Officers Manhandled and Beat Tyre Nichols. Davissaid last week more officers are under investigationand the department's specialized units are being subject to a"complete and independent review.". Tyre Nichols' death puts magnifying glass on Black police officers. Want to send Nicole a note? permanently disbanded and under investigation. Multiple police videos show officers punching, kicking and hitting him with a baton. The Memphis Fire Department fired three workers on Monday for their response to a gravely injured Tyre . She did not . Hemphill, who is white, joined the Memphis Police Department in 2018. The bombing also wounded more than 150 people. Two Shelby County sheriffs deputies were also relieved of duty pending an administrative investigation in connection with Nichols death, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr.announcedFriday night after having watched the video for the first time. One of the officers yanks Nichols out of the car, video shows. MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Authorities announced that a total of seven Memphis Police officers were relieved of duty this month after police officers brutally beat, Tased and pepper sprayed 29 . [73], On January 26, the Grand Jury of the State of Tennessee indicted the five MPD officers and presented the following findings: murder, second-degree; aggravated assault; aggravated kidnapping; aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon; official misconduct, harming another; official misconduct, refraining from performing a duty imposed by law; official oppression. The mayor expects the video to be released Wednesday. The Memphis Police Department said Sunday its cops hadn't arrested a single demonstrator. TheNAACP Memphis Branchcalledfor all law enforcement officers and first responders who were involved in the traffic stop to be terminated and prosecuted. A Memphis police spokeswoman said Monday that information will be released when it becomes available. It isn't clear whether the officer, who wasn't identified, will face charges. You can sign up here. They were indicted about a week later and now face second-degree murder charges, along with assault and kidnapping charges. Teachers andprofessorsare concerned the technology makes it far too easy for students to easily producewriting assignments and examsand that it generates content in a way thatcanbypass plagiarism detection software. Officer Preston Hemphill was relieved of duty shortly after the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died three days later at a hospital, Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said. He died in a hospital days later. [87], Various police officers reacted to the death of Tyre Nichols. A sixth member of the Memphis Police Department has been relieved of his duties due to the deadly January 7 encounter between police officers and 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, police officials . He died at a hospital three days later. Also in the news:The death toll in a suicidemosque bombing in Pakistan has risen to at least 88 and a look at whether schools should ban artificial intelligencetool ChatGBT over cheating risks. Both have been "relieved of duty pending the outcome of this administrative investigation.. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. [a] After pulling Nichols out of his vehicle, they used pepper spray and a taser to attempt to subdue Nichols as they attempted to detain him. On Monday, the department confirmed that a sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, had been "relieved of duty," according to spokesperson Kimberly Elder. The city's fire department also announced Monday evening that two of its EMTs and a lieutenant were terminated following their own internal investigation into the death of Nichols. The department didn't provide a list of charges. ", "City: More Memphis police officers may face discipline in Tyre Nichols case", "City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland statement regarding Tyre Nichols Thursday, January 26, 2023", "Video shows Memphis police violently beating Tyre Nichols in the traffic stop that led to his death", "Tyre Nichols: Family remembers 'a beautiful soul', "Tyre Nichols was a son and father who enjoyed skateboarding, photography and sunsets, his family says", "Family of Tyre Nichols urge calm as police prepare to release video of fatal beating", "From Sacramento to Memphis, Tyre Nichols Cut His Own Path", "Tyre Nichols Beating Opens a Complex Conversation on Race and Policing", "Black Memphis police spark dialogue on systemic racism in the U.S.", "What we know about the 5 Memphis police officers charged with beating Tyre Nichols to death", "4 officers indicted in Tyre Nichols death had previous reprimands, suspensions by MPD", "Memphis special police unit accused in Tyre Nichols' death faces scrutiny", "Tyre Nichols: What is the 'Scorpion' unit of Memphis police? By January 29[update], the GoFundMe campaign had raised nearly US$1million. We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community this news seems to indicate that they haven't risen to the occasion," they said. Authorities are waiting for the next of kin to be notified before releasing the victim's name. Demonstrators outsidea Memphis Police Department precinct Sunday demanded theofficer who's seen firing what appears to be a Taserin the video be identified and charged. An MPD spokesman confirmed the department relieved Officer Preston Hemphill of duty in a Monday statement to Fox News Digital. 7th Memphis Officer Disciplined in Tyre Nichols' Fatal Arrest; 3 EMTs Fired Officer Preston Hemphill was relieved of duty shortly after the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died three days later at a . December 2, 2014. And, two Mermphis Fire Department department workers were also removed from duty over Nichols arrest. In New York and Los Angeles where police stood guard in riot gear there were some clashes. ", but another officer was already manipulating Nichols' handcuffed arm; then when an officer shouted: "Give me your fucking hands! I'm gonna tase your ass. "We expect the next phase of personnel actions in the coming days," the department said in the statement. "The Division invested millions of dollars in these cameras for the express purpose of creating a video and audio record of these kinds of encounters," Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said in a statement Tuesday. [b], Tyre Deandre Nichols (/ta.ri nk.lz/ TY-ree;[5] June 5, 1993January 10, 2023)[6] was a 29-year-old Black man, with a four-year-old son. 2023 alleged killing by police in Memphis, TN, U.S. On January 8, the MPD said Nichols had been stopped for. "[37], Medics arrived around 8:41p.m. but did not begin to assist Nichols until 16minutes later. When everybody saw the video, we see that you have multiple officers just standing around, when Mr. Nichols is in distress, that just paints a totally different picture, Jones said. While the MPD initially said that Nichols had been pulled over for "reckless driving," Chief Cerelyn Davis said on Thursday that officers had no proof to pull Nichols over, and called the video "heinous, reckless, and inhumane.". Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was relieved of duty shortly after Nichols' Jan. 7 arrest, the department said. A sixth Memphis Police Department officer has been disciplined for his involvement in the brutal beating and arrest of Tyre Nichols, a department spokeswoman said Monday. Hemphill has not been charged with a crime. Officer Preston Hemphill was relieved of duty shortly after the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died three days later at a hospital, Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said. After trying to flee on foot . The statement added that "numerous" impending charges are developing. A representative with the union representing rank-and-file officers, the Memphis Police Association, couldn't be reached for comment. Keepreading:Tyre Nichols' parents to attend State of the Union. A Columbus, Ohio, police officer has been relieved of duty following the fatal shooting of a 47-year-old Black man Tuesday, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced. Officer Hemphill has not received departmental or criminal charges. A police report was written two hours after Nichols was beaten. The Memphis FireDepartment fired emergency medical technicians, Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, and fire engine driver Lt. Michelle Whitaker forfailing to provide Nichols an "adequate" assessment when they were called to provide medical aid after he was beaten by police officers, the department said Monday. ", Authorities say 29-year-old Nichols was brutally beaten by five now-fired Black Memphis Police Department police officers during a traffic stop on January 7. An officer involved in the arrest of Tyre Nichols a Black man who was severely beaten by police in Memphis, Tennessee, and later died has been "relieved of duty," authorities said on Monday. [78] On the day of the video's release, FBI Director Christopher Wray said he was appalled by the video, and Patrick Yoes, the national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, stated that "The event as described to us does not constitute legitimate police work or a traffic stop gone wrong. For example, Biden said that such families tell their children that when "a police officer pulls you over, turn on your interior lights. "Most importantly, a life has been lost. Times Syndication Service. Hemphill and the seventh officer are suspended from duty, pending an investigation. Based on one of the responding officer's "look back" body camera footage, the man walked toward the officer with a cellphone in his left hand. On January 15, MPD announced the officers involved would face administrative action. APD says Vickers will remain in that status until there is an emergency hearing with the Chief of Police. Police officials added, that this behavior was also part of a pattern of jeering, abusing, and "blatantly unprofessional" conduct on the part of the officers, which also included cursing at Nichols, laughing after the beating, and "bragging" and documenting their involvement in the deadly beating.[41]. For the record, relieving someone of duty is not firing them, City Council Vice Chair J.B. Smiley Jr. tweeted, ending the post with "#FirePrestonHemphill" and "#JusticeForTyre.". hide caption. So they are just as culpable as the officers who threw the blows.. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. The camera shakes as Nichols runs and an officer, whom Gerald identified as Hemphill, shoots at him with a taser. The news today from Memphis officials that Officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly relieved of duty weeks ago, but not yet terminated or charged, is extremely disappointing. Preston Hemphill is the 6th Memphis police officer relieved of duty over Tyre Nichols' death. A sixth officer who was involved in the confrontation with 29-year-old Tyre Nichols has been relieved of duty from the Memphis Police Department, according to multiple reports. Gerald and the department did not respondThe Commercial Appeal's question as to whetherHemphill was part of the SCORPION Unit, a specialized unit that focused on concentrating officers in areas with high crime. Sources confirmed to 10TV . They sometimes yell contradictory commands at him in a chaotic scene. Crump had previously said that the way charges were handled should act as a standard for police accountability. A few months later, he was relieved of duty. [51] Seth Stoughton, a law professor and use-of-force expert, noted that an officer typically shouts it out immediately if they see a suspect reach for a weapon, and none did so in the videos of their struggles with Nichols. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther holds a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, following the fatal shooting of a Black man in Columbus, Ohio. These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. 0:00. They are appealing. He can be reached atLucas.Finton@commercialappeal.comand followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. The five other officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 20 after an administrative investigation found they had violated department policy about the use of force. Protests in other cities also remained overwhelmingly peaceful. In the body camera footagethat was taken from Hemphill's point of view, according to Gerald, officers can be heard yelling at Nichols to get out of his car before they are seen forcibly removing him from the car. Hemphill's attorney, Lee Gerald, confirmed that Hemphill . Learn how and when to remove this template message, The Institute for Public Service Reporting, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, January 2023, "A Timeline of Tyre Nichols's Lethal Police Encounter", "City of Memphis releases footage of police fatally beating Tyre Nichols", "Why was Tyre Nichols stopped by Memphis police? Preston Hemphill, and an unidentified officer, had . Department spokesperson Christopher Williams . Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, 32, was shot several times as he chased an armed suspect around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue, across the street from Sawyer . An ambulance arrived at 9:02p.m. and took Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:18p.m. after he complained of shortness of breath. Later in the day it said another officer had also been relieved, but without naming the person or specifying what role they played in the incident. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Lucas Finton is a news reporter with The Commercial Appeal. An attorney for Hemphill told Insider on Monday that his client "was the third officer at the initial stop" of Nichols on January 7 and that "he was never present at the second scene. [83] Nichols' funeral was held the next day at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis. We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community this news seems to indicate that they haven't risen to the occasion.". Figure Skating Championships. Nichols managed to run away to within 100 yards of his mother's house before the officers caught up to him. The body-worn camera footage released by the City of Memphis on January 27, does not "show any activity earlier than an officer responding to a stop in progress "[26], At the traffic stop, Haley[27] pulled Nichols out of his car as Nichols said: "I didn't do anything." Nichols worked for FedEx,[7][8] and was an amateur photographer with a photography website. Nichols' death has sparked outrage in Memphis and across the country. We are simply confirming that he is relieved of duty.. Video shows Nichols running away from officers toward his house . At least one officer appeared to have been hit with a chemical irritant when it was sprayed at Nichols during the initial encounter. Part of HuffPost News. [13], The five Black Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers accused of assaulting and beating Nichols in connection to the traffic stop each had two to six years of police experience. Attorneys for Tyre Nichols' family suggested a white cop involved in the victim's arrest got special treatment. Nichols was pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving on Jan. 7.