Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Public Safety

Activists protest harsh conditions in detention facility while ICE denies claims

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Wed, 2 Sep 2026 17:56:16 -0500

A group of around 20 protesters gathered outside the West Tennessee Detention Facility to protest what they called “deplorable conditions” inside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement center.

New sheriff gives tour of crumbling 201 Poplar

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 21:35:24 -0500

The wear and tear on the 40-year-old building is evident everywhere, but progress is happening in small, expensive steps, including restoration of the jail’s 10 escalators, which cost more than $1 million.

Memphis immigration raid resulted in 121 arrests, feds say

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 15:17:34 -0500

The Department of Homeland Security called the operation “targeted enforcement,” but advocates say it ignored legal documents.

MPD arrests new suspect in OUTMemphis shooting

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 11:20:45 -0500

After arresting the wrong suspect, who spent more than three months in jail, Memphis police now believe they have the actual shooter who critically injured two people May 5 at OUTMemphis.

Opinion: Transparency shouldn’t stop at the DA’s door

john.covington@memphispoliceassociation.org (John Covington) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:14 -0500

“If a serious charge generated through the Memphis Safe Task Force is not prosecuted, citizens have a legitimate interest in knowing what happened. That is not an attack on prosecutors. It is accountability.”

Opinion: Making bail more expensive and unattainable violates human rights

editor@dailymemphian.com (Luke Tankersley) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 13:24:41 -0500

“Advocating against the Anti-Bail Fund Legislation is not to stand for the release of convicted felons, but rather to stand and say that the legislation is flawed at its core.”

Tennessee National Guard members halt patrols Friday for ‘administrative work,' Marshals Service says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:19:52 -0500

The Tennessee National Guard remains deployed as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, according to Gov. Bill Lee’s office. Lee commands deployment of the state’s guard.

Man killed by National Guard was shot in back, autopsy reveals

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:57:42 -0500

A newly released autopsy shows 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson was shot in the back in Downtown Memphis in July.

Memphis adds fourth option to 911 calls: mental health

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:58:14 -0500

The City of Memphis announced Wednesday, Aug. 26, that it is introducing a new mental health services option callers can request in emergency situations.

DNA results from crime scenes could soon be returned in as little as 90 minutes in Shelby County

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:02:19 -0500

The new technology aims to dramatically reduce investigation timelines compared to traditional forensic processing at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab in Jackson, Tennessee.

Opinion: Tackling domestic violence, the hidden part of violent crime

wgibbons@memphis.edu (Bill Gibbons) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:15:14 -0500

“Addressing the domestic violence part of our violent crime challenge must involve providing more support for domestic violence victims, more accountability for the perpetrators and efforts to change behavior.”

Sawyer federal corruption case stays on track to January trial date

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:48:06 -0500

The Jan. 11, 2027, trial date stands in the public corruption case as defense attorneys continue to review 50,000 documents from discovery.

Corrections deputy found guilty in Gershun Freeman's death

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:35:21 -0500

In October 2022, Gershun Freeman died at 201 Poplar after an altercation with nine corrections deputies.

A Memphis photographer was killed by a driver fleeing law enforcement. His friends are ensuring his memory lives through music.

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:33:33 -0500

After Reggie Pederson’s life was cut short, the Memphis arts communities he loved are celebrating his memory through tribute shows and a planned second line memorial down Beale.

Father arrested after 5-year-old accidentally kills himself

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:33:34 -0500

Marquavious Washington was charged after his son accidentally shot himself with a gun found in their home.

Numerous rule violations led to death of 6-year-old girl left on bus, state inspection shows

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:35:48 -0500

A state inspection shows that a series of failures by the staff at Kid University directly contributed to the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones, who was left on a bus for hours on a day when the temperature reached 99 degrees.

State rules, if followed, should have prevented child's death in hot bus

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:13:09 -0500

If followed properly, Tennessee regulations should have prevented the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones, a nonverbal, autistic child who her father said was left on a childcare bus for hours Thursday as the temperatures hit 99 degrees.

6-year-old autistic child dies after being left on daycare bus, father says

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:21:49 -0500

Bryan Jones took his daughter to a Cordova daycare as usual, but says she was never dropped off at elementary school. Police are now investigating her death.

Money, drugs and TVs seized after deadly Douglass shooting

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:13:09 -0500

An altercation during a celebration preceded a burst of gunfire that left one woman dead and four others injured, according to affidavits that provide new details about the moments before and where it led investigators.

Commissioner Erika Sugarmon charged with vandalism

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:37:48 -0500

Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon made a brief appearance Tuesday, Aug. 11, in General Sessions Court on at least four charges of vandalism under $1,000.