Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Thank you, U.S. Attorney Ritz. Good afternoon. I am Kristen Clarke, and I lead the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.
The Justice Department has brought federal civil rights criminal charges against five former Memphis Police Department Detectives involved in the tragic death of Tyre Nichols. The charges allege that five former Scorpion Team detectives used excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols, that they aided and abetted each other in using that excessive force and that they failed to intervene to stop the excessive force. We also allege that after they used excessive force on Mr. Nichols, the detectives failed to render medical aid or to advise the dispatcher and emergency medical personnel of Mr. Nichols’ serious medical needs – even as his condition deteriorated and he became unresponsive. As time passed at the arrest scene, the defendants discussed striking Nichols, hitting him with straight haymakers and taking turns hitting him – information they failed to tell EMTs and paramedics. And we charge all five detectives with conspiring to and taking overt action to cover-up their misconduct.
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