A dozen indicted for Memphis retail-store break-ins
Memphis police already arrested 23 individuals who were allegedly part of a “mob-style smash-and-grab” burglary ring June 26.
Ben Wheeler
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 :
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December 2023
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Public Safety Siblings allege new cases of abuse at Youth Villages
Another Memphis family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump over alleged abuse at Youth Villages.
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Deadly surge: Community reaches within to curb crime
“It’s so many layers, so let’s fix some of these things so we can start seeing a change. As long as it stays like this, it’s sort of like the wild, wild west out there,” says Delvin Lane, executive director of 901 Bloc Squad.
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Public Safety Deadly surge: Memphis surpasses past homicide record
A data analysis by The Daily Memphian shows that homicides have increased since 2017 and breaks down the victims by gender, race and age.
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Public Safety Deadly surge: Relaxed gun laws and the link to homicide rates
While ascribing the gloomy climb to any one cause would be simplistic, one factor jumps out: relaxed gun laws.
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Behind The Headlines Memphis homicides broke a record in 2023, Lee talks vouchers and more
Memphis’ homicide rate, school vouchers and passenger rail were among the topics discussed on this week’s “Behind The Headlines.”
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Public Safety Jaylin McKenzie’s mother files federal lawsuit against the City of Memphis
The mother of 20-year-old Atlanta native Jaylin McKenzie, who was killed in December 2022 when visiting Memphis, has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Memphis and various police department officials.
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Public SafetyAnother former MPD officer identified in Tyre Nichols’ case
Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis told the Memphis City Council in February 13 additional officers were facing internal police charges related to Nichols’ death, but she did not identify them.
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Public Safety Decision in Ja Morant hearing pushed to next year
Depending on the ruling, the focus could shift to plaintiff Joshua Holloway’s team to show Morant can be held liable.
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Public SafetyShelby County Sheriff’s Office declines records request in Gershun Freeman case
The logs were requested to verify that nine officers indicted for Freeman’s death are no longer working at the jail, also known simply as 201 Poplar.
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North Memphis Suspect dead after shoot-out with Sheriff’s deputies
At about 7:30 a.m., deputies attempted to stop a suspect wanted by the Germantown Police Department in connection with an attempted murder, according to a statement issued by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
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Public Safety Seven MPD officers decertified by state
The most recent decertifications came during the December meeting of the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission.
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January 2024
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Public SafetyTimeline: The death of Tyre Nichols and what’s happened since
The weather in Memphis on Jan. 7, 2023, was mild, with clear skies and temperatures in the 50s. But the events of that night created a storm that still hovers over the city.
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Public SafetyDeadly surge: More than 40% of homicide cases remain unsolved
The family of Yusef Shabazz — one of the 586 unsolved criminal homicides in Memphis — has waited months for answers. Many families are still waiting after years, as data shows close to half of cases 2016-2021 are currently unsolved.
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Public SafetyNearly a quarter of MPD hired within the last two years
Out of the Memphis Police Department’s current complement of 1,912 officers, roughly a quarter of them – 24.9% – were hired in 2022 or 2023.
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Public Safety TBI investigating death of 201 Poplar inmate
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials are investigating the death of an inmate at 201 Poplar.
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Public Safety Federal judge will allow expert testimony with caveat in Nichols case
An attorney for one of the former officers previously argued that federal prosecutors in the criminal case should not be allowed to have expert witnesses speak on two key points during the trial.
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Public Safety Lawsuit cites ‘derelict leadership’ in stabbing death of inmate
A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the parents of Deion Byrd, a Shelby County Jail inmate who was assaulted while awaiting a court appearance at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center.
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Public Safety Inmate at 201 Poplar attacks jailer with sharp object
The affidavit says the inmate told the jailer that he “had something for him,” and “I’m going to kill you.”
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MetroMemphis housing doesn’t help when it comes to extreme temps
“A lot of our residents just don’t have enough money to make regular repairs or regular upgrades to their homes, especially if they are living in one of those older homes,” said Ashley Cash, the city’s housing director.
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Public Safety New recordings from Nichols beating reveal disturbing details
In the new footage, other MPD officers are heard describing those in the SCORPION unit as “adrenaline junkies” who are too “hands-on.” One officer is also heard saying, “It’ll be justified.”
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February 2024
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Public SafetyCrime cut in half? It’s unclear. But it’s down
During her Jan. 9 reappointment presentation to the Memphis City Council, Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis noted that crime in the city had been slashed in half over a six-month period.
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Public Safety Mother of inmate who died went months unable to contact son
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said an independent, preliminary autopsy described a Shelby County Jail inmate’s manner of death as a homicide.
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Public SafetyJury finds in favor of woman who was unlawfully arrested in 2020
The case was ultimately against three Shelby County Sheriff’s Office employees in their treatment of Kesha Gray during a March 29, 2020, interaction.
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Update
Public SafetyMPD: Suspect in multiple Sunday shootings captured
The suspect was out of jail on a bond of $100,000 for criminal attempt first-degree murder and criminal attempt especially aggravated robbery, according to a press release.
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