weepingangel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 3,548
- Reaction score
- 22,208
MS- 6 White officers subjected 2 Black men to hours of grueling violence, and then tried to cover it up
- Thread starter weepingangel
- Start date
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
Thank you for starting this thread. I came here to do just that. It hurts my heart that there are still law enforcement officers in this country who would inflict this torture on anyone. Hatred (racial and otherwise) runs deep. Some of these officers had also treated a white man badly (but not this badly) the month before, according to linked information in this article. They are an equal opportunity “Goon squad” as they called themselves, but their racism is clearly evident. Shameful!
JMO
From the link…read this and weep:
The deputies avoided a surveillance camera above the front door. Dedmon, Opdyke and Elward broke open the carport door and Hartfield kicked open the back door.
Entering the home without a warrant, the officers encountered two Black men: Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins. Parker was living there to help take care of the woman who owned the property. Jenkins, his friend, was staying there temporarily.
Over the next two hours, Parker and Jenkins were subjected to grueling violence at the hands of the six White law enforcement officers, culminating in Jenkins being shot in the mouth.
The horrors the two men endured—as well as the text messages and other details in this report—were included in the federal court document filed on July 31. The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with “the torture and physical abuse” of the two men that night, the Justice Department said in a news release. The officers, who had been fired or had resigned after the incident, pleaded guilty to all charges against them in federal court last Thursday.
Some of the officers involved even called themselves “The Goon Squad” because of their willingness to “use excessive force” and not report it, according to the federal document.
The former officers are also facing state charges – all six are facing a charge of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, four with obstruction of justice in the first degree, two are charged with home invasion, and one with aggravated assault – and are expected to plead guilty on August 14 as part of the plea deal, according to Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Mary Helen Wall.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers.”
—————
The abuse continued in a bedroom, where Opdyke, Middleton, Dedmon and McAlpin assaulted Parker with pieces of wood and a metal sword.
Dedmon, Middleton, Hartfield and Elward then began to tase the two men repeatedly to see “which (Taser) was the most powerful,” the document said. Elward’s Taser was discharged eight times; Hartfield’s five; and Dedmon’s four.
Then, Dedmon fired into the yard.
Elward removed a bullet from his gun, forced Jenkins onto his knees and put the gun into his mouth. Elward fired the gun, which did not discharge.
He racked the slide, put the gun back in Jenkins’ mouth and pulled the trigger again.
The bullet lacerated Jenkins’ tongue, broke his jaw and went out through his neck.
———————-
Parker and Jenkins laid out the details of that night in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in mid-June, alleging six White deputies had turned off their body cameras and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded, punched, repeatedly used Tasers on the two men, called them racial slurs and threatened to rape them.
“In their repeated use of racial slurs in the course of their violent acts, (the deputies) were oppressive and hateful against their African- American victims. Defendants were motivated on the basis of race and the color of the skin of the persons they assaulted,” the lawsuit states.
When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, Jenkins was taken to a hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. He has suffered permanent physical injuries and cognitive damage, including disfigurement and impairment, according to the civil lawsuit. Parker also sought medical attention for injuries suffered during the incident, it said.
The five Rankin County officers were under the purview of Sheriff Bailey, who is among the named defendants in the victims’ civil lawsuit filed in June.
More at the link:
JMO
From the link…read this and weep:
The deputies avoided a surveillance camera above the front door. Dedmon, Opdyke and Elward broke open the carport door and Hartfield kicked open the back door.
Entering the home without a warrant, the officers encountered two Black men: Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins. Parker was living there to help take care of the woman who owned the property. Jenkins, his friend, was staying there temporarily.
Over the next two hours, Parker and Jenkins were subjected to grueling violence at the hands of the six White law enforcement officers, culminating in Jenkins being shot in the mouth.
The horrors the two men endured—as well as the text messages and other details in this report—were included in the federal court document filed on July 31. The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with “the torture and physical abuse” of the two men that night, the Justice Department said in a news release. The officers, who had been fired or had resigned after the incident, pleaded guilty to all charges against them in federal court last Thursday.
Some of the officers involved even called themselves “The Goon Squad” because of their willingness to “use excessive force” and not report it, according to the federal document.
The former officers are also facing state charges – all six are facing a charge of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, four with obstruction of justice in the first degree, two are charged with home invasion, and one with aggravated assault – and are expected to plead guilty on August 14 as part of the plea deal, according to Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Mary Helen Wall.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers.”
—————
The abuse continued in a bedroom, where Opdyke, Middleton, Dedmon and McAlpin assaulted Parker with pieces of wood and a metal sword.
Dedmon, Middleton, Hartfield and Elward then began to tase the two men repeatedly to see “which (Taser) was the most powerful,” the document said. Elward’s Taser was discharged eight times; Hartfield’s five; and Dedmon’s four.
Then, Dedmon fired into the yard.
Elward removed a bullet from his gun, forced Jenkins onto his knees and put the gun into his mouth. Elward fired the gun, which did not discharge.
He racked the slide, put the gun back in Jenkins’ mouth and pulled the trigger again.
The bullet lacerated Jenkins’ tongue, broke his jaw and went out through his neck.
———————-
Parker and Jenkins laid out the details of that night in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in mid-June, alleging six White deputies had turned off their body cameras and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded, punched, repeatedly used Tasers on the two men, called them racial slurs and threatened to rape them.
“In their repeated use of racial slurs in the course of their violent acts, (the deputies) were oppressive and hateful against their African- American victims. Defendants were motivated on the basis of race and the color of the skin of the persons they assaulted,” the lawsuit states.
When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, Jenkins was taken to a hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. He has suffered permanent physical injuries and cognitive damage, including disfigurement and impairment, according to the civil lawsuit. Parker also sought medical attention for injuries suffered during the incident, it said.
The five Rankin County officers were under the purview of Sheriff Bailey, who is among the named defendants in the victims’ civil lawsuit filed in June.
More at the link:
Last edited:
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
Press release:
www.justice.gov
“The defendants in this case tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who abuse the public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The physical and emotional impact of their crimes resulted from a calculated, deliberate, and egregious course of conduct that required a significant response from authorities. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who violate the public trust by abusing the power given to them by virtue of their position.”
“These former law enforcement officers have committed heinous and wanton acts of violence disgracing the badge which so many others have worn with pride and honor,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “They violated their oaths and have become the criminals they were sworn to protect us from.”
“Our citizens deserve credible law enforcement to safeguard the community from crime. The actions of these deputies and the officer significantly deprived the citizens of that protection and eroded the trust earned each day by honest law enforcement officers throughout the nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating those who misuse their authority, violate the color of law, or inject biases in the execution of their duties.”
Charging documents:
Six Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Plead Guilty to Torturing and Abusing Two Black Men
Two federal criminal informations were unsealed today charging six former Mississippi law enforcement officers with a total of 16 felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of three Rankin County residents in two separate unrelated incidents. Those 16 felonies include civil rights...
“The defendants in this case tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who abuse the public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The physical and emotional impact of their crimes resulted from a calculated, deliberate, and egregious course of conduct that required a significant response from authorities. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who violate the public trust by abusing the power given to them by virtue of their position.”
“These former law enforcement officers have committed heinous and wanton acts of violence disgracing the badge which so many others have worn with pride and honor,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “They violated their oaths and have become the criminals they were sworn to protect us from.”
“Our citizens deserve credible law enforcement to safeguard the community from crime. The actions of these deputies and the officer significantly deprived the citizens of that protection and eroded the trust earned each day by honest law enforcement officers throughout the nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating those who misuse their authority, violate the color of law, or inject biases in the execution of their duties.”
Charging documents:
vls12345
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2021
- Messages
- 3,230
- Reaction score
- 27,353
I have to wonder if the Rasheem Carter case is similar? MOO.
Post in thread 'MS - Rasheem Carter, 25, called mom said life in danger, Smith County, scattered remains found in 2022 and 2023' MS - Rasheem Carter, 25, called mom said life in danger, Smith County, scattered remains found in 2022 and 2023
Post in thread 'MS - Rasheem Carter, 25, called mom said life in danger, Smith County, scattered remains found in 2022 and 2023' MS - Rasheem Carter, 25, called mom said life in danger, Smith County, scattered remains found in 2022 and 2023
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
Quoting Sheriff Bailey:
“All of the former deputies lied to me, that night of this incident,” the sheriff said. “I am sick to my stomach … I have tried to build a reputation, tried to have a safe county. They have robbed me of all of this, by the actions of these few.”
“This is a perfect example of why people don’t trust the police,” he added. “Never in my life did I think this would happen in this department.”
He also apologized to Jenkins and Parker as well as the Rankin County community.
Bailey said he knew the five Rankin County officers well and he “never ever could imagine that any of these five individuals were capable of these horrendous crimes that they committed.”
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
Earlier article (June 15) about the lawsuit by the victims:
This county has problems!
Rankin County and Bailey are also facing a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of a man shot and killed by officers overseen by Bailey in 2019. And in March, a county judge ruled that the sheriff’s office had violated the Mississippi Public Records Act by withholding incident reports about three men who were killed by sheriff’s deputies or died in their custody.
Shabazz [attorney for the victims] said the six deputies were not punished for their actions in January and remain with the sheriff’s office. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to an inquiry about the deputies’ employment.
Shabazz called for the prosecution of the deputies involved.
Current article:
This county has problems!
Rankin County and Bailey are also facing a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of a man shot and killed by officers overseen by Bailey in 2019. And in March, a county judge ruled that the sheriff’s office had violated the Mississippi Public Records Act by withholding incident reports about three men who were killed by sheriff’s deputies or died in their custody.
Shabazz [attorney for the victims] said the six deputies were not punished for their actions in January and remain with the sheriff’s office. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to an inquiry about the deputies’ employment.
Shabazz called for the prosecution of the deputies involved.
Current article:
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
I expect it is indicative of the same racist mindset that caused the six deputies in this case to treat these two men as subhumans.
JMO
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
These self-described goons are facing some serious time in prison for the federal charges! The state charges have lesser sentences according to links above.
www.wral.com
The former officers, shackled at their wrists and feet, walked into the courthouse with family members and federal marshals took all six into custody. The defense attorneys did not comment on their clients' behavior during the court appearance.
"They became the criminals they swore to protect us from," U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca said. "Now, they'll be treated as the criminals as they are."
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee said the men will be sentenced in mid-November. Dedmon and Elward each face a maximum sentence of 120 years plus life in prison and $2.75 million in fines. Hartfield faces a possible sentence of 80 years and $1.5 million, McAlpin faces 90 years and $1.75 million, Middleton faces 80 years and $1.5 million, and Opdyke could be sentenced to 100 years with a $2 million fine.
The men are scheduled to plead guilty to the state charges on Aug. 14, said Mary-Helen Wall, a deputy state attorney general.
ETA: I’d like to track down the other cases of violence against black men by these goons that AP found according to this article:
The civil rights charges come after an investigation by The Associated Press linked the deputies to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019 that left two dead and another with lasting injuries.
White ex-officers in Mississippi plead guilty to racist assault on 2 Black men during raid
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Six former Mississippi police officers, including some calling themselves "The Goon Squad,” pleaded guilty Thursday to a racist assault on two Black men that ended with an officer shooting one man in the mouth.
www.wral.com
The former officers, shackled at their wrists and feet, walked into the courthouse with family members and federal marshals took all six into custody. The defense attorneys did not comment on their clients' behavior during the court appearance.
"They became the criminals they swore to protect us from," U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca said. "Now, they'll be treated as the criminals as they are."
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee said the men will be sentenced in mid-November. Dedmon and Elward each face a maximum sentence of 120 years plus life in prison and $2.75 million in fines. Hartfield faces a possible sentence of 80 years and $1.5 million, McAlpin faces 90 years and $1.75 million, Middleton faces 80 years and $1.5 million, and Opdyke could be sentenced to 100 years with a $2 million fine.
The men are scheduled to plead guilty to the state charges on Aug. 14, said Mary-Helen Wall, a deputy state attorney general.
ETA: I’d like to track down the other cases of violence against black men by these goons that AP found according to this article:
The civil rights charges come after an investigation by The Associated Press linked the deputies to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019 that left two dead and another with lasting injuries.
Last edited:
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
Six former Rankin Co. officers plead guilty to charges related to abuse of Black men
Six former Rankin County law enforcement officers have entered guilty pleas in charges related to the abuse of two Black men.
Rankin County Six at a Glance:
- Brett McAlpin - former chief investigator for RCSD; pleaded guilty to seven counts
- Jeffrey Middleton - former lieutenant with RCSD; pleaded guilty to six counts
- Christian Dedmon - former narcotics investigator for RCSD; pleaded guilty to eight counts
- Hunter Elward - former patrol deputy for RCSD; pleaded guilty to 11 counts
- Daniel Opdyke - former patrol deputy for RCSD; pleaded guilty to eight counts
- Joshua Hartfield - former narcotics investigator and flex officer for Richland Police; pleaded guilty to six counts
imstilla.grandma
Believer of Miracles
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2018
- Messages
- 32,707
- Reaction score
- 221,514
Prosecutors say the officers, who are all white, nicknamed themselves the “Goon Squad” because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover it up, including the attack that ended with a victim shot in the mouth.
Elward admitted he shoved a gun into Jenkins’s mouth and pulled the trigger in a “mock execution” that went awry.
The families of Michael Corey Jenkins and Damien Cameron sit together prior to interacting with U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, unseen, during the Jackson, Miss., stop on the division's civil rights tour, June 1, 2023. Six former Mississippi law officers, including some who call themselves the "Goon Squad,” will plead guilty to state charges Monday, Aug. 14, for their racist assault on the two Black men that ended with an officer shooting one man in the mouth. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
After the brazen acts of police violence in Rankin County came to light, some residents pointed to a police culture they said gave officers carte blanche to abuse their power.
The civil rights charges followed an investigation by The Associated Press linking some of the officers to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019, which left two dead and another with lasting injuries. The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe into the case in February.
Rankin County’s majority-white suburbs have been one of several destinations for white flight out of the capital, Jackson, which is home to one of the highest percentages of Black residents of any major U.S. city.
The officers warned Jenkins and Parker to “go back to Jackson or ‘their side’ of the Pearl River,” the documents say.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Elward admitted he shoved a gun into Jenkins’s mouth and pulled the trigger in a “mock execution” that went awry.
The families of Michael Corey Jenkins and Damien Cameron sit together prior to interacting with U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, unseen, during the Jackson, Miss., stop on the division's civil rights tour, June 1, 2023. Six former Mississippi law officers, including some who call themselves the "Goon Squad,” will plead guilty to state charges Monday, Aug. 14, for their racist assault on the two Black men that ended with an officer shooting one man in the mouth. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
After the brazen acts of police violence in Rankin County came to light, some residents pointed to a police culture they said gave officers carte blanche to abuse their power.
The civil rights charges followed an investigation by The Associated Press linking some of the officers to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019, which left two dead and another with lasting injuries. The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe into the case in February.
Rankin County’s majority-white suburbs have been one of several destinations for white flight out of the capital, Jackson, which is home to one of the highest percentages of Black residents of any major U.S. city.
The officers warned Jenkins and Parker to “go back to Jackson or ‘their side’ of the Pearl River,” the documents say.
Six former Mississippi officers plead guilty to state charges for torturing two Black men
Six white former Mississippi law officers who tortured two Black men have pleaded guilty to state-level charges.
www.newsday.com
Former Mississippi officers expected to plead guilty to state charges for racist assault
Six white former Mississippi law officers who tortured two Black men will plead guilty to state-level charges for the racist assault
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Last edited:
sds71
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2013
- Messages
- 13,605
- Reaction score
- 147,832
Ex-Mississippi cops' plead guilty to torturing and abusing black men
Deputies for the Rankin County Sheriff's Office, and one from the Richland Police Department, have been charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.
I am from Mississippi (and still live here) and I'm just heartbroken. What these men went through is shocking, and I don't even have the words to express how repulsive I find the acts of these cops. My ex-boyfriend was an officer at the Richland Police Department 10-15 years ago (when we were together) and the cronyism ran deep back then. I'm so glad these events were brought to light, the victims were believed, and the thugs were brought to justice. I'm glad they pleaded guilty and saved us the farce of a trial. Ugh. Just disgusted.
Do we know which officer admitted lying initially? Is there a chance they would have gotten away with it otherwise?Ex-Mississippi cops' plead guilty to torturing and abusing black men
Deputies for the Rankin County Sheriff's Office, and one from the Richland Police Department, have been charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.www.dailymail.co.uk
It’s horrific. I am shocked that they all pleaded guilty.
Me too! Did any of the articles state there was a plea deal? I was wondering if their lawyers advised them that things would go worse for them if they went to trial. I do wonder how they'll fare in prison. Karma and all...
I didn’t see that. I think it was on advisement as well…
It’s gonna suck for them I’m sure.
Maybe they can change as human beings over this…
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
This article has photos of all the goons.
ETA: Now I see that the DM link has terrific photos a usual.
ETA: Now I see that the DM link has terrific photos a usual.
Last edited:
Perhaps. I was pleased to see that one has stepped up and taken responsibility for his actions. A rarity these days, for sure. Hopefully sincere and not just angling for lighter sentencing...
Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 19,633
- Reaction score
- 82,112
From a video with the victims, I got the impression that they weren’t believed initially, so yes the officers could have gotten away with it. I don’t have time right now to dig deeper to answer which officer admitted lying, but it’s somewhere in the posted links.
I’m going to look later. I’m just curious.
I also think they could have potentially gotten away with it as well.