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

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.

Memphis Safe Task Force sweeps Hickory Hill nightclub, arrests 6

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:01:45 -0500

A Saturday night party at a nightclub ended with arrests after the Memphis Safe Task Force, alongside Memphis law enforcement, locked down the venue.

Fatal shootout leaves family grieving, lawmakers and neighbors targeting 'trap houses'

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:35:16 -0500

After a weekend shootout at a college send-off party killed a woman, Memphis lawmakers and grieving family members are demanding the closure of neighborhood problem properties.

Trial begins for two jailers charged in 2022 inmate death

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 10:22:42 -0500

Two Shelby County corrections deputies are charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the death of Gershun Freeman.

Indicted Millington police officer fired for falsifying timesheets

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 11:43:40 -0500

Millington police officer Bryan Childress fired after an investigation revealed he was filing false timesheets, pocketing nearly $3,000 by doing so.

Buckner beats Less in Shelby County Sheriff's race

sbohnel@dailymemphian.com (Steve Bohnel) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 22:11:22 -0500

Democratic candidate Anthony Bucker claims victory in the race for Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Millington police officer indicted on two felony counts, expected to be fired

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 20:44:01 -0500

A Millington police officer was indicted on two felony charges this week after an investigation that began last year, although the nature of that investigation remains unclear.

'They disappear fast’: Activists protest ICE's rapid shuffle flights from local airport

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 13:35:15 -0500

Dozens of local activists and faith leaders gathered at Wilson Air Center to demand an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flights operating out of the Memphis facility.

Police arrested wrong suspect in OUTMemphis shooting, DA says

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 20:51:15 -0500

The suspect spent nearly three months behind bars until being released after DA investigators turned up new information, officials said.

Letter to the Editor: The Task Force’s actions are moral indictment of Memphis

letters@dailymemphian.com (Letters to the Editor) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 04:00:01 -0500

“The deaths of four Memphis residents at the hands of the Memphis (un)Safe Task Force are a moral indictment of a city that continues to confuse force with public safety and to mistake control through violence for peace.”

Fayette County woman receives federal prison time in ‘stolen valor’ case

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:35:41 -0500

A West Tennessee resident who constructed a fake history as a combat-wounded military veteran to collect donations has received a federal prison sentence.

Road rage shooting suspect among arrests announced by MPD

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:23:41 -0500

Memphis police and the Memphis Safe Task Force announced dozens of recent arrests on Thursday, July 30, including a suspect in a road rage shooting and three suspected gang members.

Memphis police rescue missing man from rushing waters

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:52:30 -0500

What started as a routine Saturday patrol turned into a three-hour race against time as Memphis Police Department officers worked alongside emergency-communications personnel to rescue a man trapped in the currents of Cypress Creek.

Family alleges officers left Shelby County inmate to die

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:06:47 -0500

In a lawsuit, the family of Rockez McDaniel alleges that staff, nurses and others are responsible for his death after he was pepper-sprayed by officers at the Shelby County Jail in 2025.

Tate Reeves appoints DeSoto County judge to state Supreme Court

afleming@dailymemphian.com (Aarron Fleming) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:53:14 -0500

The Southaven judge will replace Justice Robert Chamberlin on the state’s highest court.

First half of 2026 sees continued decline in crime

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:44:34 -0500

“We should be encouraged by the significant progress we’ve made in our crime rate,” said Crime Commission President Bill Gibbons.

Video released of fatal Task Force shooting at Burger King

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:48:55 -0500

Surveillance clips show the shooting that killed Darrin Pigram inside the Burger King where he worked. The release comes days after officials said there would be no charges filed against the officer.