Public Safety
After 4 recent deaths at 201, Sheriff’s Office takes media inside jail
”We try to keep predator and prey separated,” a chief deputy said during a recent media tour inside the jail.
Aarron Fleming
There are 681 articles by Aarron Fleming :
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February 2025
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Public SafetyMPD officers at fault for half of officer-involved crashes so far in 2025
Officer-involved crashes are common because of how much driving the job requires, according to a police best-practices expert.
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Public Safety Former officer charged in Tyre Nichols’ death taken into federal custody
Emmitt Martin III, who pleaded guilty last year at the federal level to his role in Nichols’ death, turned himself in Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
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Public SafetyEthics complaint against fire chief Gina Sweat dismissed
The city ethics board members voted unanimously Friday, Feb. 21 to dismiss a complaint filed earlier this month against the Memphis fire chief.
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Public Safety Mother of inmate who died at 201 Poplar files lawsuit
The inmate, Ramon McGhee, 42, died in the hospital Jan. 12, 2024, two days after being found in his cell at 201 Poplar unresponsive and covered in bedbugs.
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March 2025
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Shelby County Edmund Ford Jr. indicted on bribery, tax evasion charges
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been indicted on one count of alleged bribery and kickbacks and six counts of attempted tax evasion, according to federal court documents filed Friday, Feb. 28.
Related content:
Edmund Ford Jr. turns himself in to federal authorities
Ford indictment spotlights County Commission ethics guidelines
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Public Safety Former board chair of inmate oversight indicted on rape charges
Vanessa Murtaugh, 46, was indicted Feb. 27 for statutory rape by an authority figure and aggravated statutory rape.
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Public Safety Autopsy confirms inmate’s cause of death
Sherman Weakley, 22, died by suicide, according to his official autopsy.
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City of MemphisHow much time is Edmund Ford Jr. facing?
The Shelby County commissioner has pleaded not guilty to charges of alleged bribery and attempted tax evasion, and he faces a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. Though, if convicted, he likely would not see that much time behind bars.
Related content:
Edmund Ford Jr. placed on leave from city job
Ford Jr. steered more money to nonprofits, documents show
Inside proposed ethics changes for county government
Harris wants to suspend Ford Jr. from making more county grants
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Shelby County Edmund Ford Jr. appears in federal court Thursday
David Pritchard, who is prosecuting the case, told Judge Thomas Parker he expects to hand over 80,000 pages of documents and 512 gigabytes of phone and computer records to Ford Jr.’s attorney Michael Scholl.
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Metro Family Safety Center abruptly closes in ‘huge loss’ for community
The Family Safety Center has been a crucial resource for victims of domestic violence in the community since 2012.
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Public Safety Trial pushed for jail deputies charged in inmate death
The trial for two of the corrections deputies charged in the 2022 death of Gershun Freeman at the Shelby County Jail has been delayed seven months.
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Shelby County How much could Mulroy ouster committee cost?
State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, said the cost of the committee is “both justified and essential.”
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Public SafetyReel vs. Real: Experts talk ‘Hollywood effect’ on crime scene investigations
“Everyone has this thing that crime scenes are this complicated thing. But really and truly, they’re not,” one expert said.
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Public Safety What’s next for Valerie Smith’s former judgeship?
Two Shelby County judgeships have been eliminated in the recent past rather than appointing new judges to the bench.
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Public Safety Frayser pastor shot and killed early Wednesday
A local pastor was shot and killed on Kentucky Street outside of Momma’s early Wednesday morning, March 12.
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Public Safety Inmate died from heart disease, autopsy says
Lawrence Sumlin, 60, died in the jail’s intake area in the early hours of Nov. 22, 2024.
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Public Safety Business burglaries down 40%, MPD says
Commercial retail thefts are down significantly this year compared to last, according to the Memphis Police Department.
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Public Safety State report: Cost of bail in Shelby County up more than 40%
The comptroller’s report calls for greater transparency regarding criminal justice data.
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Public Safety Alleged shooter behind Memphis spree no longer representing himself
Ezekiel Kelly, the man accused of carrying out a city-wide shooting spree in 2022, is facing the death penalty for his alleged crimes.
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Public Safety Two former MPD officers formally decertified
Two former Memphis police officers can no longer work as law enforcement in Tennessee after a hearing by the state’s Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission.
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State Government Memphis judge confirmed to Tennessee appeals court
Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Valerie Smith has been confirmed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
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Public Safety MPD identifies Downtown shooting victims
The victims were shot just before 2:45 p.m. Saturday while getting into a car outside of the Westin Memphis Beale Street, police said.
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Shelby County Air conditioning not working at 201 Poplar
The HVAC issues have affected both the jail and the courthouse, according to statements from local officials.
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Public Safety New U of M report studies bail in Shelby County
Bail amounts in Shelby County increased following the passage of a recent state law aimed at peeling back local bail reform efforts.
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