September 18 – In a gripping courtroom testimony on Tuesday, former Memphis police officer Emmitt Martin III admitted to repeatedly punching a “helpless” Tyre Nichols during a violent encounter in January 2023. Nichols, 29, died three days after the beating, sparking national outrage.
Martin, who was part of a special police unit called the Scorpion Unit, detailed his involvement during the January 7 traffic stop that led to Nichols’ fatal injuries. According to Martin, Nichols was pulled over and dragged from his car before fleeing on foot. When Martin caught up, he found fellow officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith already assaulting Nichols.
“They were assaulting him,” Martin testified, adding that after joining the group, he punched Nichols at least five times while Bean and Smith held the man’s arms and encouraged him to “hit him.” Despite Nichols’ compliance, officers continued to command him to “give them his hands,” while physically restraining him.
During his testimony, Martin admitted to throwing his body camera on the ground to avoid documenting the violence. He also confessed to misleading his supervisor about the severity of their use of force, falsely claiming that Nichols had been under the influence and that he had tried to grab Martin’s gun. “I exaggerated his actions to justify mine,” Martin said, acknowledging that he lied to protect himself and his colleagues.
Martin’s admission came as part of a plea deal, which could influence his sentencing. He expressed regret, stating, “I can’t sit here and live with a lie. The truth needs to come out.”
The January 7 incident was captured on police video, which was later released to the public. Nichols, a father of a 7-year-old boy, was pepper sprayed, tased, and beaten just a block from his home. He called out for his mother during the attack, while the officers continued their assault. Nichols died three days later, with an autopsy revealing that he succumbed to multiple blows to the head, resulting in brain injuries.
Five officers, including Martin, were fired and indicted on federal charges of violating Nichols’ civil rights, obstructing justice, and using excessive force. The officers also face state charges, including second-degree murder, to which they have pleaded not guilty. However, both Martin and Desmond Mills Jr. are expected to change their pleas.
The Scorpion Unit, which had been tasked with targeting violent criminals and illegal activity, was disbanded following Nichols’ death. The case continues to draw attention to issues of police brutality and misconduct within specialized units.
