Deion Byrd was stabbed Oct. 26 in a holding cell awaiting a court appearance at the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center, more commonly known as 201 Poplar.

Details from the plea agreement reached in the federal criminal case against Desmond Mills Jr. shed more light on his role in Tyre Nichols’ death.

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Plea deals reached for officer charged in Tyre Nichols’ death

Judge OKs release of additional materials in Tyre Nichols case

Files newly eligible for public release include 24 hours of video, audio, reports and personnel files of up to 17 City of Memphis employees related to the indictment and investigation. 

Deion Byrd’s family is the fifth in the Memphis-Shelby County area who have lost loved ones during interactions with law enforcement to hire Ben Crump for representation.

“As soon as we uncovered evidence that he had these images, then obviously we secured a warrant and affected an arrest on him and terminated him that day,” said Chief Deputy Justin Smith.

After the first judge’s recusal from the case, Hernandez Govan appeared in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 10 Judge Jennifer Mitchell’s courtroom for the first time Thursday, Nov. 2.

“I’m hoping that for Mr. Mills it was his conscience that allowed him to make this plea agreement and not because of his lawyers telling him it was the right thing to do,” RowVaughn Wells said.

“It’s always been a nuisance,” Nita McComb said of the EZ Express convenience store near her Frayser home. “It’s just an eyesore because of people loitering. A lot of people loitering.”

William Skelton, 38, made the plea Wednesday, Nov. 1, in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 3 Judge James Jones Jr.‘s courtroom. 

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced the policy Tuesday, Oct. 31, during a press conference in the 10th-floor conference room of the DA’s office in the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, 201 Poplar Ave.

Desmond Mills, who is represented by attorney Blake Ballin, plans to enter a change of plea during a hearing.

Alfonzo Turner, owner of Tha Table, was shot Sunday, Oct. 29, outside of his restaurant, 3250 Elvis Presley Blvd., and later died in the hospital. Another man was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car at the same scene. 

The board issued Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd a public reprimand Tuesday, Oct. 31, for failing to abide by the terms of her suspension order. The board said it was referring her to the Tennessee General Assembly “for further action.”

According to a certified forensic litigation expert on jail issues, “there are all kinds of methods of hiding things on a person’s body and in a person’s clothing.” 

An internship in college changed the trajectory of Mike Fisher’s career. He was appointed as Germantown Police Department’s chief Monday night.

The new instances uncovered in public records bring to 46 the number of substantiated instances of excessive force involving officers at 201 Poplar. 

The suit’s amended complaint also alleges that some of the officers allegedly involved and indicted for their role in Freeman’s death are still working there, even as an ongoing criminal case plays out against them.

Coffee filed the order Sept. 28 after the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Jackson filed an order reversing his denial of defendant Justin Johnson’s motion to recuse.

The nine Shelby County corrections officers indicted for their alleged roles in the death of an inmate last year made their first court appearances Friday, Oct. 27.

A man has been charged in the fatal stabbing of inmate behind a courtroom at 201 Poplar Thursday morning.

Related story: 

Jail detainee dies after stabbing in court

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the stabbing “of a jail inmate by another” at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Ave.

An attorney for two women filed a lawsuit against the city, former Memphis Police Chief Michael Rallings and former officer Alexis Brown.

Residents from neighborhoods across the city expressed their opinions about crime and public safety during a series of conversations in this summer.

The trial for a former Kroger security guard accused of killing an unarmed Black man in 2021 has been reset for the second time.

A multitude of break-ins led a Bartlett business to install accordion-style gates to thwart criminals. That put him at odds with city leaders, who say the security measure sends the wrong message.