Ben Wheeler is an investigative reporter and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He previously worked at the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan and Herald-Citizen.
There are 175 articles by Ben Wheeler :
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to intentionally “withhold and omit material information and knowingly make false and misleading statements” to cover up the use of force taken out on Nichols.
Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old Atlanta native, was killed in December 2022 when visiting Memphis.
“Effective policing requires public trust,” said Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Five former officers in Tyre Nichols case federally indictedRelated story:
Decertification process for fellow officer Preston Hemphill was also placed on hold.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy deny, in new court filing, that they tried to exploit Michael Oher for personal gain. The movie “The Blind Side” was based on his story.
After 41 deaths at 201 Poplar, since the start of 2019, Shelby County government is in the process of renewing its contract with Wellpath, the largest health care provider for jails and prisons in the country.
Gershun Freeman was involved in a fatal encounter with corrections officers in the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Ave. on Oct. 5, 2022. Bonner claims Freeman video release was illegal and politically motivatedRelated story:
The alleged victim, Elvis Hester, filed a grievance against Jones after Jones reportedly made threats of a sexual nature and refused to feed Hester.
Here’s a look at major events surrounding the death of Gershun Freeman, from Oct. 25, 2022, to the present.
The shooting happened during a Lil Baby concert Sept. 7 and resulted in critical injuries to one man.
Joel Bowman’s defense team plans a more thorough mental evaluation.
Charles Williams II was indicted on two counts each of criminal attempt of second-degree murder, plus other charges, in the March 30 shooting on East Raines Road.
The 31 incidents occurred between June 2018 and September 2021, and they involved at least 27 correctional officers.
Among the plan’s recommendations is creation of a DMC Youth Advisory Council that would “receive feedback on appropriate youth-focused activities for Downtown and youth perceptions of public safety.”
Attorneys for the City of Memphis previously filed a motion to strike any mention of the former Atlanta “Red Dog” police unit in the $550 million lawsuit, arguing the information would be immaterial and scandalous.
An attorney for two women filed a lawsuit against the city, former Memphis Police Chief Michael Rallings and former officer Alexis Brown.
The new instances uncovered in public records bring to 46 the number of substantiated instances of excessive force involving officers at 201 Poplar.
“It’s always been a nuisance,” Nita McComb said of the EZ Express convenience store near her Frayser home. “It’s just an eyesore because of people loitering. A lot of people loitering.”
Deion Byrd’s family is the fifth in the Memphis-Shelby County area who have lost loved ones during interactions with law enforcement to hire Ben Crump for representation.
Deion Byrd was stabbed Oct. 26 in a holding cell awaiting a court appearance at the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center, more commonly known as 201 Poplar.
The slaying on Tennessee Street is the latest in city’s march toward another possible record year of homicides.
After one of its guards allegedly shot and killed a man at a Kroger gas station in Memphis, the State of Tennessee found the company employed 309 unlicensed guards during a six-month period.
The panel hosted by New Memphis and moderated by Mayor-elect Paul Young Tuesday at Memphis Botanic Garden featured five leaders of organizations doing on-the-ground work in Memphis focusing on violence interruption and prevention.
Miguel Andrade was expected to accept a plea agreement at Thursday’s hearing, but showed up with new legal counsel who requested the delay.
Personnel records for Demetrius Haley, 30, reveal that he had multiple allegations of violating departmental policy at Shelby County Division of Corrections.