5 former officers charged with federal civil rights violations in Tyre Nichols beating death

By ADRIAN SAINZ and JONATHAN MATTISE
Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with federal civil rights violations in the beating death of Tyre Nichols. The five were indicted Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Memphis even as they continue to fight second-degree murder charges in state courts. The indictment charges each of them with deprivation of rights under the color of law through excessive force and failure to intervene; conspiracy to witness tampering, and obstruction of justice through witness tampering The new charges come nine months after the violent beating of Nichols by officers during a Jan. 7 traffic stop near his Memphis home. Nichols died three days later.