Six Former Mississippi Police Officers Plead Guilty to Assault Charges

Attorney Malik Shabazz (pictured right) speaks at a Feb. 15 press conference on behalf of Michael Jenkins (pictured 2nd left) with Jenkins’ mother, Mary Jenkins (left), and his father, Mel Jenkins (2nd right) File Photo by Kayode Crown

By: Adonis Armstrong

Six former Mississippi police officers admitted guilt on Thursday, Aug. 3rd, in connection with race-fueled assault charges, with most of them identifying as The Goon Squad, known for their willingness to use excessive force, according to WJTV.

Based on court documents, the officers barged into a Braxton residence without a warrant and forcibly handcuffed Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in January. For approximately 90 minutes, Jenkins and Parker endured various torturous acts, including being shot with tasers, subjected to a form of "waterboarding" involving milk, chocolate syrup, and alcohol, and experiencing anally penetrating with an unidentified object. One of the accused even put a gun in Jenkins' mouth and pulled the trigger, causing a bullet to fracture his jaw, lacerate his tongue, and inflict severe neck injuries.

In an effort to conceal their evil actions, the former officers planted a firearm and methamphetamine on the victims and tampered with home surveillance footage, spent shell cases, and taser cartridges. As a result, Jenkins faced charges of aggravated assault and controlled substance possession, while Parker was accused of disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After a civil rights investigation conducted by the Justice Department, the disturbing situation came to light, resulting in multiple charges against each of the six former officers. Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, and Daniel Opdyke, who were part of the Rankin County Sheriff's Department, and Joshua Hartfield, a former member of the Richland Police Department, have admitted to various offenses, including conspiracy against rights, obstructions of justice, deprivation of rights under color of law, discharge of a firearm under a crime of violence, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Additionally, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke pleaded guilty to three federal felony offenses for a separate incident from December 2022. U.S. District Judge Tom Lee announced that all six individuals will be sentenced in November.

Ex-Mississippi officers plead guilty to racist assault on 2 Black men during raid

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Mississippi Resident Files $400M Lawsuit Over Jaw Shooting Incident

By: Adonis Armstrong

A federal lawsuit seeking $400 million in damages has been filed by a Mississippi resident who narrowly escaped death after being shot in the mouth, all while being detained alongside his companion by six police officers from Rankin County. The incident took place during an alleged drug raid.

On February 15th, Eddie Terrell Parker (left) and Michael Corey Jenkins can be seen seated in a room at the office of lawyer Trent Walker in Jackson, Mississippi. (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)

Michael Corey Jenkins, aged 32, and Eddie T. Parker, aged 35, both African American, allege that their constitutional rights were infringed upon on January 24th. This occurred when deputies from Rankin County's Sheriff's Department forcefully entered Parker's residence, placed the men in handcuffs, and conducted a drug search. Despite unlawfully entering Parker's home, their attorney, Malik Z. Shabazz, informed Capital B that during the incident the officers use, “excessive interrogation methods to coerce a confession.”

Among the defendants listed in the lawsuit, three officers, including Hunter Elward, who were present at the residence in Braxton, Mississippi, as well as Sheriff Byran Bailey, have been named as codefendants. Jenkins alleges that Elward, during the incident, discharged a firearm and inflicted severe, potentially life-threatening injuries to his jaw and tongue. The lawsuit further states that following the incident, Elward falsely accused Jenkins of pointing a gun at him, resulting in the filing of wrongful criminal charges.

For almost two hours, the individuals were subjected to a series of disturbing actions which included frequent punches, kicks, slaps, electric shocks from stun guns, and relentless racist remarks, all conducted in an extremely juvenile and peculiar manner. As stated in the lawsuit, the officers also allegedly made an attempt to sexually assault Jenkins and Parker using a sex toy. When their efforts to commit this evil act against Jenkins were frustrated due to him defecating on himself, the officers responded by engaging in immature and bizarre behavior, laughing, throwing eggs at them, and forcing them to remove their clothing and take a shower together.

The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department has initiated a federal investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Office regarding this matter. However, it has not been officially disclosed whether the allegation of attempted sexual assault will be part of the investigation. On May 8th, Shabazz wrote a letter to the Civil Rights Division urging them to examine the case as a hate crime. A spokesperson from the Civil Rights Division has acknowledged the receipt of Shabazz's letter.

This isn’t the first time the Rankin County Sheriff Department has been handed a lawsuit. I hope this is the lawsuit to promote change in the department.

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Mother of Aderrien Murry Files Lawsuit After Police Shooting

Nakala Murry, mother of Aderrien who was shot by police in Indianola, Mississippi on Saturday, May 20, 2023, is with her attorney and family members. (Credit: Nakala Murry)

By: Adonis Armstrong

According to CNN, Nakala Murry, the mother of Aderrien Murry, has filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday May 30th. The legal action follows an incident in which a police officer, responding to Aderrien's 911 call, shot him in the chest.

The lawsuit alleged that Capers “failed to assess the situation before displaying and/or discharging his firearm.” It further stated, “The injuries endured by the defendants could have been avoided if defendants would have acquired the adequate training on how to provide proper assistance and care.”

As stated in the lawsuit, the defendants named in the case consist of the City of Indianola, Mississippi, its police chief, and several officers, notably Greg Capers, who the Indianola Police Department confirmed as the individual responsible for shooting Aderrien. Nakala is pursuing a minimum of $5 million in damages, alleging excessive force, negligence, and various other charges.

As previously mentioned, during the early hours on May 20th, Nakala told her son to call 911 following an incident involving the agitated father of one of her other children. Nakala stated that upon Caples arrival, he immediately withdrew his firearm and ordered everyone to exit the house. As Aderrien crossed the hallway towards the living room, the responding officer discharged his weapon, shooting the 11-year-old child in the chest.

Following the incident, Aderrien was rushed to a near by hospital by first responders, where he underwent the insertion of a chest tube and was placed on a ventilator. Nakala, his mother, disclosed that he suffered from a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and a lacerated liver as a result of the shooting. Aderrien has been released from the hospital.

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