One of many 5 Memphis officers charged with the homicide of Tyre Nichols was the president of the Mississippi department of a scandal-ridden fraternity.
Tadarrius Bean, 24, who was fired over his position in Nichols’ brutal beating, served as the top of the Omega Psi Phi’s Eta Zeta chapter on the College of Mississippi, in accordance with his LinkedIn.
Though the fraternity boasts its greater than 100 12 months historical past as a haven for black faculty college students, it has been on the heart of a number of hazing incidents lately.
One chapter in Virginia was suspended after members had been discovered overwhelmed and compelled to pour sizzling sauce on their genitals, whereas two different members in a New York chapter had been arrested for paddling a person’s testicles as much as 200 instances.
Bean and the 4 different officers concerned in Nichols’ loss of life proceed to be scrutinized after a collection of movies revealed the extent of their actions when arresting the 29-year-old and ignoring his twitching physique as lay dying.
Tadarrius Bean, one of many Memphis officers charged with the homicide of Tyre Nichols, served as the top of the Omega Psi Phi’s Eta Zeta chapter on the College of Mississippi
Though the frat champions itself as a beacon for black faculty college students, it has been embroiled in controversies over brutal hazing rituals
Nichols died within the hospital after he was tased, kicked and punched within the head, struck thrice with a steel baton, and twice hit with pepper spray within the face by 5 officers
Based in 1911 at Howard College, a traditionally black faculty, Omega Psi Phi champions itself as a fraternity ‘on the entrance line, leveraging its energy, affect and greater than 100 years of dedication to the uplift of our individuals and our communities.’
However like many frats, Omega Psi Phi has been plagued with a number of scandals concerning abuse and hazing in direction of new members.
In 2019, a Virginia chapter at Previous Dominion College was suspended for 5 years following an investigation into disturbing hazing incidents.
Members of the Tau Lambda chapter had been discovered to have overwhelmed potential members, pressured them to drink sizzling sauce and pour it on their genitals to simulate having Sexually Transmitted Illness, The Virginian Pilot reported.
The investigation mentioned that members had been pressured to participate in a ‘crucifixion’ the place they cling pledges on a board whereas they’re slapped within the face, again, chest and ribs.
College directors famous that a minimum of one pledge wanted to be taken to the hospital to deal with his accidents over the beatings.
A 12 months previous to the Virginia investigation, two Omega Psi Phi members at its Brooklyn chapter had been arrested for the brutal hazing of a 45-year-old pledge.
Steve Liverpool was arrested after he and one other Brooklyn Omega Psi Phi member struck a 45-year-old pledge on his physique, chest, again, buttocks and testicles between 150-200 instances. Pictured: Liverpool attending a fraternity occasion
The sufferer of the fraternity, which Liverpool (above) and Keston Frank led, was later identified with rhabdomyolysis, a situation the place muscle breaks down and releases a protein into the blood that may injury the kidneys
Kindergarten trainer Steve Liverpool, and metropolis worker Keston Frank, who head the Alpha Upsilon chapter, had been charged with assault and hazing of Tory Gates.
Gates was struck on his physique, chest, again, buttocks and testicles between 150-200 instances, by hand and with a fraternity paddle, leaving him hospitalized, authorities charged within the 2018 criticism.
The sufferer was later identified with rhabdomyolysis, a situation the place muscle breaks down and releases a protein into the blood that may injury the kidneys, as effectively an lack of ability to urinate following the assault.
Liverpool, who taught kindergarten within the Bronx, was reassigned to a place the place he would not oversee youngsters, metropolis Division of Schooling officers mentioned.
Again in 2001, the fraternity’s department at Tennessee State College was additionally suspended for 5 years after a pledge died throughout a hazing ritual.
Joseph T. Inexperienced, 25, collapsed on the garden of the White Greek Excessive College when he was pushed to finish numerous bodily actions for the Omega Psi Phi chapter, CBS reported.
The medical expert’s workplace mentioned Inexperienced had a temperature of 103.7 when he handed out, noting that he additionally suffered an acute bronchial asthma assault.
No legal expenses had been ever filed in opposition to the frat.
Whereas the Omega Psi Phi has confronted scrutiny prior to now, Bean has by no means been charged in connection to any type of hazing.
After graduating faculty, he labored within the fast-food trade after which for AT&T in Memphis earlier than becoming a member of the pressure.
Charged with second diploma homicide are (prime, left to proper) Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and (backside, left to proper) Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith
The 5 cops who had been fired and charged over Nichols’ loss of life are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr, and Justin Smith.
They’re charged with second-degree homicide, assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
Harrowing video of Nichols arrest confirmed how the officers tased him, kicked and punched him within the head, struck him thrice with a steel baton, and twice sprayed him with mace within the face.
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis has mentioned different officers are beneath investigation for his or her half within the arrest.
Davis described the 5 officers’ actions as ‘heinous, reckless and inhumane.’
Tyre Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells (above) has referred to as for legal expenses in opposition to the paramedics who appeared to fail to render help after he was savagely overwhelmed by police
Because the investigation continues over Nichols loss of life, his stepfather Rodney Wells and his lawyer, famed civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, mentioned the video demonstrates that different first responders ought to be reprimanded.
‘Everybody – the hearth division, paramedics that got here out that stood round and did not do something – they’re simply as responsible,’ Wells informed ABC Information following the discharge of the video.
‘Everybody that was energetic in the entire scene, the entire video, ought to be charged,’ he added.
The movies of Nichols’ arrest has sparked outrage nationwide, with many protests persevering with into the weekend in Memphis, Atlanta and Boston demanding justice for the 29-year-old.
Video of Nichols’ arrest spawned a wave of protests on Friday carrying into the weekend
Protesters referred to as for justice as they slammed the American legal justice system
Pictured: Mourners putting objects at a memorial website the place Nichols was arrested and overwhelmed