Memphis cop accused of beating Tire Nichols to death took PHOTO of him bleeding

One of five Memphis police officers accused of brutally beating a black man to death has taken photos of his bloodied body and sent them to at least six people.

Newly released documents revealed the length of Memphis police officers’ misconduct after arresting Tire Nichols for allegedly driving recklessly – a claim for which no evidence was provided – before mercilessly spraying him, taser, then beat him to death when he tried to escape their onslaught.

Records show Constable Demetrius Haley – who first forced Nichols out of his car – shone a flashlight in his victim’s face after he was handcuffed and pressed limply against a police cruiser, then pulled took a picture with his personal cell phone.

Haley then fired that shot at six people, including two police officers, a department employee and a civilian acquaintance.

The documents were part of a review of the violent arrest, which found the officers involved had behaved in a “patently unprofessional” manner, even “bragging” about the beatings after they took place.

By taking and distributing the photos, Haley flagrantly violated police protocol requiring confidentiality of arrests.

He also violated rules prohibiting officers from using personal cell phones during interactions.

These violations, however, were the least of their offenses, which began when Nichols was forced out of his car without being told why, or later being arrested.

From there, Haley and the other officers at the scene did not activate their body cameras throughout the stoppage and ensuing arrest, and one of them, Emmitt Martin III, even completely removed his camera and threw it in his police car.

Nichols fled from officers after Haley pepper sprayed him in the face. A group of cops chased him and beat him before handcuffing him.

Haley caught up after the assault, and while Nichols was restrained, he kicked him hard in the head.

From there, officers failed to administer proper first aid to their victim – joking about the beatings and taking pictures instead – and dropped him as they waited for an ambulance to arrive .

The documents went on to detail how Haley and the other officers gave conflicting accounts of the arrest, and even “refused to provide an accurate account” to Nichols’ mother after the incident.

Five officers involved in the arrest – Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean – have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and an accusation of official oppression. .

A sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, was suspended for his role in the beating.

Seven other Memphis police officers are also being investigated, bringing the total number of officers involved to 13. The names of the other seven have not been released.

Following the tragedy, two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies were also relieved of their duties pending an ongoing investigation, but have not been charged.

Three other Memphis Fire Department employees were also fired Jan. 30 for failing to help Nichols as he lay dying in the Jan. 7 shootings. Nor have they been criminally charged.

The three people freed by firefighters included two paramedics, Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge, and Lt. Michelle Whitaker.

Police body camera footage of Nichols’ arrest sparked widespread outrage after it was released last month, which showed officers brutally kicking and punching the 29-year-old .

The terrifying encounter began with a traffic stop, when several unmarked police cars surrounded Nichols’ vehicle and officers dragged him from the driver’s seat as he could be heard shouting, “Get the f *** of the f ****** car.’

After pulling the 29-year-old from his car, several cops then begin kicking and punching him relentlessly as he lies in the street.

He then broke free frantically, scrambling to his feet before sprinting down the road and away from the group of officers pursuing him.

An officer then fired a taser at Nichols, but he later claims only one pin hit him, meaning the circuit was not completed and the electric shock was not delivered.

The chase continued for about half a mile before Nichols was seen tackled and restrained by two officers, who shouted “give me your hands!”

Other officers then arrived on foot while Nichols was pinned down, leading to one of them pepper spraying his face.

Two officers held Nichols to the ground as he tried to free himself, then the third appeared to kick him in the head.

Following this devastating blow, Nichols was seen collapsed more completely on the sidewalk with the three officers surrounding him. The same officer then resumed kicking him.

With Nichols already subdued, the officer who used the pepper spray then extended a telescopic metal baton and shouted “I’m going to shoot him!” before hitting Nichols three times in the back.

Several officers were then seen supporting Nichols on his feet while one punched his face. Nichols stumbles and turns, still restrained by two officers.

The officer who punched him then walked to Nichols’ front and punched him three more times, causing the 29-year-old to collapse.

Nichols was heard repeatedly shouting, “Mom! Mom!’ during the struggle, but fell silent after being punched in the face.

After Nichols was handcuffed, he appeared unresponsive and unable to sit up straight.

Immediately after the brutal attack, several officers were heard swearing, making jokes and ordering him to sit down as he collapsed on the pavement.

Even after paramedics arrived at the scene, they did not appear to provide immediate assistance.

In total, Nichols lay on the sidewalk for more than 19 minutes as at least eight cops circled the scene, rinsing pepper spray from their own eyes.

Then, even after paramedics arrived, Nichols had to wait nearly half an hour slumped on the sidewalk for any major medical treatment.

Eventually, he was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.