By Adrian Sainz -
The Associated Press
A sixth Memphis Police Department officer has been disciplined for his part in the brutal beating of Tire Nichols, the black man who died three days after a traffic stop on January 7, a police spokeswoman said Monday.
Preston Hemphill was taken away shortly after Nichols' arrest, according to spokeswoman Karen Rudolph, who did not disclose the officer's role in the brutal beating of the 29-year-old.
Rudolph said information about the disciplinary action against Hemphill has not been released until now because he was not fired and the department typically only reports on those who are released after an investigation is complete.
Camera footage of the officers involved in the arrest was released on Friday, showing how they used a stun gun, a baton and their fists to beat Nichols.
The young man is heard calling his mother during the beating.
He then remains injured on the pavement for several minutes.
He died in a hospital three days later.
How the deadly encounter between Tire Nichols and the officers who brutally beat him occurred
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Five officers (all black) were fired last week and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes stemming from the arrest, which has shocked the country with its brutality and reignited calls for police reform across the country.
Memphis police and the Shelby County district attorney said an investigation into the officers' actions was ongoing, and a Memphis police spokeswoman said Monday the information will be released when it becomes available.
In addition to the five officers, who conversed for several minutes with Nichols on the ground visibly injured, two Shelby County sheriff's deputies were relieved of duty during the investigation.
Two Memphis Fire Department employees were also removed from their duties.
Tire Nichols, "an avid skater and dreamer" who was killed by five police officers
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Video showed that other officers, in addition to those originally implicated, also responded to the scene.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn
CJ
Davis has not said whether an officer who was involved in the first part of the traffic stop in which Nichols was stopped and was heard to say: "I hope you stomp my ass” as the young man tried to run away.
Nichols' family, lawyers and community activists have strongly called for action against all officers involved.
