Memphis braces for release of police video showing Tire Nichols’ arrest

Authorities in Memphis are set to release police video showing five officers beating a black man whose death resulted in murder charges and sparked outrage over the country’s latest case of police brutality.

Relatives of Tire Nichols pleaded for all protests to remain peaceful. The officers, who are all black, were charged with murder and other crimes in Nichols’ murder on Thursday.

The young father died three days after a confrontation with the police on January 7 during a traffic check. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that while the officers each played different roles in the murder, “they are all responsible.”

Relatives of Nichols and their lawyers said the footage shows officers savagely beating the 29-year-old for three minutes in an attack the legal team compared to the infamous 1991 police assault of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as “heinous, reckless and inhumane”. On Friday, she said her department could not substantiate the charge of reckless driving that led to the stop.

Mulroy said the traffic control video would be released sometime Friday evening. Relatives of Nichols watched it Monday.

Given the likelihood of protests, Davis said she and other local officials decided it would be best to release the video later in the day after schools closed and people came home from work.

Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells has warned supporters about the “horrific” nature of the video, but advocated peaceful protests.

“I don’t want us to burn down our city, tear up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said Thursday.

“If you are here for me and Tire, you will protest peacefully.”

For more information, watch Euronews’ report in the video above.