Social media users are demanding the arrest of Preston Hemphill, a police officer who is accused of tasering Tyre Nichols, as protests break out around the country. Additionally, Hemphill is thought to be the officer who said, “I hope they stomp his ass,” in the widely circulated bodycam video of Nichols’ assault.
Who is Preston Hemphill?
Preston Hill is a police officer from Memphis Police Department accused of tasering Tyre Nichols, who was violently beaten up by Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin, and Desmond Mills Jr.
In the wake of Tyre Nichols’ passing, many are demanding for Preston Hemphill be detained. Police officers who claimed to be trying to arrest the latter for careless driving kicked, pepper sprayed, tased, and threw him to the ground.
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Three days after being admitted to the hospital, on January 10, Tyre Nichols passed suddenly. After a heavy beating, Nichols “suffered considerable blood,” according to an independent preliminary autopsy.
One of the first online users to assert that Preston Hemphill was responsible for tasing Nichols was Twitter user @Amberisms_. She added two images to her tweet along with the information that he was mentioned in the affidavit.
This is Preston Hemphill. Detective Hemphill is named in the affidavit as having deployed his taser. He’s 26, born in July 1996. He needs to be charged accordingly for his part of contributing to Tyre Nichols being murdered. Notice the Apple Watch in both pictures..same band. pic.twitter.com/erNmaqgrDG
— A is for Afro (@Amberisms_) January 29, 2023
Hemphill could be seen posing for the camera in one of the photos while standing next to another officer. Another image showed a person wielding what seemed to be a taser.
Independent news source Tennessee Holler also tweeted about Hemphill’s suspected participation. They pointed out that on the well-known attack footage, he was heard stating, “I hope they stomp his a**.”
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The Memphis Police Department confirmed that officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was “relieved of duty” and put on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Tyre Nichols’ death was reported by Twitter user @sirmaejor, who stated that Hemphill was 26 years old. Hemphill was listed as a “Police Service Technician” in Memphis in a 2019 Open Payrolls website post, which is where Newsone discovered his name. An employee in this position responds to “traffic control, non-critical crash investigation, and motor vehicle code and status enforcement.” According to reports, this is an entry-level trainee post where prospective police officers receive their formal training.
Social media users are calling for Hemphill to be detained for allegedly tasering Nichols while the five Black ex-police officers are being charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
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In a public statement, Smiley Jr stated: “The officer who tased #TyreNichols and who compelled the other officers to stomp him must be fired. We must put an end to the culture that allows excessive force and assumes it is commonplace.” Additionally, Smiley Jr. insisted that the cop who tased Nichols be prosecuted along with the other officers.
