Jurors see video of EMTs not treating Tyre Nichols after beating

During a recent trial involving three former Memphis police officers, disturbing video footage was presented, showing two emergency medical technicians standing idle for several minutes while Tyre Nichols lay seriously injured on the ground. Nichols had just been brutally beaten by police, yet the EMTs provided no medical assistance, as indicated in the footage displayed in court.

The video, captured by the body cameras of the officers involved, portrays EMTs Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge walking around Nichols, who was visibly distressed on the ground. After several minutes of inactivity, Long finally approached Nichols, asking him to respond. Unfortunately, Nichols did not answer.

The former officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—had been charged with acting with “deliberate indifference” to Nichols’ condition as he lay incapacitated. According to the indictment, they “willfully” ignored Nichols’ medical needs, failing to provide care and neglecting to inform medical personnel that he had suffered severe injuries. They face charges of excessive force and witness tampering as well but have pleaded not guilty.

The video revealed the officers casually conversing while Nichols struggled on the ground, further complicating the defense strategy by highlighting the inaction of the fire department personnel as well. Long and Sandridge were later terminated for breaching department protocols related to Nichols’ medical response, though they have not faced criminal charges.

Medical attention finally arrived when paramedics Jesse Guy and his partner responded to the scene. Up until that point, the officers who inflicted the injuries could be heard discussing the situation without attending to Nichols.

Nicols, a Black man, had initially fled during a traffic stop after being pepper-sprayed and stunned by the officers. He was then pursued and beaten just a short distance away from his home while he called out for his mother.

Tragically, Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later, on January 10, 2023. In light of the incident, the Memphis Police Department dismissed the five officers involved—including Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr.—who along with their colleagues, face federal charges related to the case. While Mills and Martin have accepted plea deals, the three officers on trial have maintained their innocence.

An extensive review of evidence conducted by the Associated Press, including hours of video and hundreds of pages of documents, raises questions about the officers’ accounts of the events that unfolded during the beating.

Paramedic Jesse Guy testified in court, confirming that when he arrived on the scene, he found Nichols lying unresponsive. Nichols showed no pulse and was not breathing, leading Guy to conclude that he appeared lifeless. Guy also mentioned that Long and Sandridge had not clearly communicated whether they had checked Nichols’ vital signs or provided oxygen prior to his arrival.

Response from the paramedics changed once Guy took over, as he administered CPR and mechanical ventilation to Nichols during the ambulance ride. Thanks to his efforts, Nichols regained a pulse before reaching the hospital.

An autopsy determined that Nichols, a father to a seven-year-old boy, died from severe head trauma, with the report detailing multiple injuries, including significant brain damage and abrasions on his head and body.

In addition to their federal charges, all five officers face accusations of second-degree murder in state court, where their pleas remain not guilty. Anticipated plea changes from Mills and Martin have been noted, yet a trial date in state court has yet to be established.