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

Man dies during Memphis Safe Task Force traffic stop

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:31:38 -0500

A man was found unresponsive during a traffic stop made by Memphis Safe Task Force Officers. The cause of death has not been determined yet.

Vigils held for 5 deaths in officer-involved car crash

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:47:14 -0500

Two vigils were held on back-to-back nights to honor five young people killed in a crash involving Memphis police officers.

Man charged after Memphis police shooting

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:34:29 -0500

Dalvin Johnson was arraigned Tuesday, and a judge set his bond at $500,000. He remains at Regional One Health after officers returned fire.

Sheriff Buckner taps new chief inspector

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:09:30 -0500

A law enforcement career that began as a teenage volunteer has led to a top leadership position in the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Jury finds man guilty for killing Memphis musician

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:01:21 -0500

A man was charged with first-degree murder for the 2024 killing of Blake Rhea, a bass player in the band Southern Avenue.

5 dead, 3 injured after crash involving MPD officers in Hickory Hill

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:57:42 -0500

Five people were killed and three others were left in critical condition after a crash involving Memphis police officers overnight Saturday.

MPD officers shoot, critically injure man during chase

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:46:50 -0500

Officials said two officers returned fire after a suspect shot at them during a foot chase.

Wrongful-conviction case of alleged killer delayed

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 18:44:10 -0500

When Andrew Hayes returns to court in November, Judge Lee Coffee will hear a motion asking the judge to remove himself from the case.

Inmate accused of killing cellmate waives bond hearing

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 14:40:05 -0500

Jonathan Griffin, 19, is charged with first-degree murder of his cellmate, Erick Jones, 23.

Jail East inmate died by suicide

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 13:29:24 -0500

The autopsy report said Beverly Turnage was found unresponsive in her cell Sept. 12.

Shelby County jail inmate killed

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 21:43:40 -0500

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is launching a homicide investigation after an inmate’s death on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 201 Poplar.

Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after failed execution, her attorneys say

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 16:11:30 -0500

Christa Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital as Tennessee officials attempted to put her to death.

Opinion: Former Mayor Wharton on how violence intervention and law enforcement make a difference

opinion@dailymemphian.com (A C Wharton) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 04:00:01 -0500

“I am not exaggerating when I tell you gunshots used to awaken me almost every night, or that patching the bullet holes in our roof used to be an annual expense. I am also not exaggerating when I say it’s gotten a lot better.”

More than half of Tennessee death row inmates are from Shelby County

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Fri, 2 Oct 2026 18:52:14 -0500

The failed attempt to execute Christa Pike has put Tennessee under scrutiny.

Members of Unknown Vice Lords gang sentenced for attempted murder

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Fri, 2 Oct 2026 05:32:38 -0500

Three members of the Unknown Vice Lords, also known as Ghost Mob, drew prison sentences of seven to 25 years each for a 2020 retaliation shooting in the city.

Memphis warehouse raid nabs 30K packages of synthetic kratom

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 16:39:24 -0500

Law enforcement called in an 18-wheeler to haul away what officials estimate to be nearly 30,000 packages of illegal synthetic kratom that law enforcement agencies seized from a Memphis warehouse.

New chief jail inspector brings nearly 50 years of experience

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:44:42 -0500

After a two-year retirement, 46-year veteran Anna Barnett is returning to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to serve as chief inspector of the jail amid ongoing operational challenges.

Shuttered nightclub will remain closed for now

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:00:37 -0500

The club was forced to shut down less than a week ago after what authorities described as a long-term investigation into violence and criminal activity linked to the business.

Maxey: 'Whatever the reasons for addiction, the voices of those impacted need to be heard'

rmaxey@dailymemphian.com (Ron Maxey) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:43:13 -0500

“In the early days after my daughter died of a drug overdose in 2014, it was one of the details with which I became obsessed – that over time, I might forget what she sounded like.”

Lindsey Whiteside pleads guilty in federal case

afleming@dailymemphian.com (Aarron Fleming) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:16:43 -0500

DeSoto County’s Lindsey Whiteside saga is almost officially over.