5 Memphis police officers charged in deadly beating of Tyre Nichols allegedly assaulted another man just three days before, federal lawsuit says
CNNCNN — Five Memphis police officers charged in the deadly police beating of Tyre Nichols last month are accused of assaulting another young Black man just three days prior, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. Unknown to Mr. Harris at the time – the black masked assailants were members of the Scorpion Unit.” None of the officers identified themselves as police or told Harris why he was being asked to step out of the car, the lawsuit says. Unit allowed to act as ‘vigilantes,’ lawsuit says The lawsuit alleges the police department and the city of Memphis allowed the SCORPION unit to operate like a “gang of vigilantes” without adequate training or supervision. “All of its actions were performed at the behest of the Memphis Police Department and Defendant City of Memphis.” “These officers weren’t out here just acting rogue,” Harris’ attorney Robert Spence told CNN.