Decertification process for fellow officer Preston Hemphill was also placed on hold. 

“Whether it results in a conviction or not, that record can go with you to your grave unless you proactively get it expunged, if you’re eligible to do that. Many, many people are not,” said Josh Spickler, head of Just City.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith made their initial appearances in federal court Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Charmiane Claxton and were arraigned on the charges.

In the second part in a two-part interview with The Daily Memphian, Shelby County’s Lead Judicial Commissioner John Marshall discusses the controversy surrounding affordable bail. 

“Effective policing requires public trust,” said Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Related story:

Five former officers in Tyre Nichols case federally indicted

Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old Atlanta native, was killed in December 2022 when visiting Memphis.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to intentionally “withhold and omit material information and knowingly make false and misleading statements” to cover up the use of force taken out on Nichols.

The work of judicial commissioners has come under public scrutiny after a new Standing Bail Order took effect earlier this year, but “we feel we have a good bench of people with criminal law experience,” said Shelby County Lead Judicial Commissioner John Marshall.

Related story:

Shelby County’s 14 judicial commissioners

The three men have all pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee to charges related to the crimes they allegedly committed between July and December 2022.

The most recent data shows that, in fiscal year 2022, 55.2% of criminal cases in Shelby County were either dismissed or the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office decided not to pursue charges.

One of the biggest issues in the mayoral campaign is how candidates intend to fight crime, including whether they will maintain current strategies.

Working alongside the Forum’s security contractor, MPD is still investigating the incident to identify and apprehend the shooter. 

Related story: 

One man in critical condition after shooting at Lil Baby concert

A statement from FedExForum says, “The incident is under investigation and we are fully cooperating with the Memphis Police Department.”

Of the five officers charged in Nichols’ death, three so far have filed motions to separate their cases.

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has promoted Chris Lareau to new first deputy. Steve Mulroy also discussed his first year in office.

The court selected Holly Kirby to serve in the role for a two-year term, effective Sept. 1, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts announced Aug. 31.

The suspect allegedly stole more than $10,000 worth of “gaming accessories” from a GameStop at 6223 Winchester Road in Hickory Hill, according to an affidavit.

The sentencing decision was announced Thursday in a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals has affirmed a 2022 ruling from a local judge, allowing former death row inmate Pervis Payne to serve his two life sentences concurrently, making him eligible for parole in four years. 

The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, Walls police and Memphis police were all involved in a chase Wednesday night that began in Mississippi and ended with one arrest in Tennessee. Four other suspects remain at large.

Multiple attendees told Department of Justice employees that the Memphis Police Department has a culture problem, one that has persisted for years.