Title: Six Mississippi Police Officers Plead Guilty to Brutality and Cover-Up
Subtitle: Shocking acts of violence against two Black victims exposed in a case of police brutality
Date: [Insert Date]
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — In a horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, six police officers in Mississippi have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges after subjecting two Black men to a brutal 90-minute ordeal of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The officers then attempted to cover up their actions through a series of deceitful measures.
The incident occurred on January 24, when a white neighbor made a racist call to Rankin County Deputy Brett McAlpin, alleging that two Black men were staying with a white woman in a Braxton home. McAlpin, along with Deputy Christian Dedmon and other white deputies, formed a group they called “The Goon Squad” and embarked on a mission of extrajudicial violence.
Without a warrant, the officers burst into the home, handcuffed Michael Corey Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker, and subjected them to a range of abuses. They poured milk, alcohol, and chocolate syrup over their faces, forced them to strip naked and shower together, and shocked them with stun guns. The officers had intended to torture the men without leaving physical scars, but one officer shot Jenkins in the mouth, causing severe injuries.
Following an investigation by The Associated Press, it was revealed that some of the deputies involved in this incident had been linked to at least four other violent encounters with Black men since 2019, resulting in two deaths and lasting injuries.
The six officers, identified as Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, and Daniel Opdyke of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, and Joshua Hartfield, a Richland police officer, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy against rights, obstruction of justice, and deprivation of rights under color of law.
Law enforcement officers are rarely charged for crimes committed on the job, making this case particularly significant. The charges filed against the officers also include assault, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice at the state level.
The brutality inflicted upon Jenkins and Parker was not a result of a botched police operation but rather a deliberate act of torture by rogue officers. U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca described it as the worst episode of police brutality he has witnessed in his career.
The incident has sparked outrage among Black residents, who expressed gratitude towards Jenkins and Parker for speaking out about their treatment and relief that the officers are being held accountable. Angela English, the county’s NAACP president, highlighted the profound impact such incidents have on the mental state of the community.
Law enforcement misconduct has come under increased scrutiny in the United States, particularly following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. The case in Rankin County serves as a reminder of the urgent need for criminal justice reforms and a reevaluation of race relations in the country.
As the officers face the consequences of their actions, the community hopes for justice and a renewed commitment to accountability within law enforcement agencies.
[Insert Author Bio]
Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus contributed to this report.
What were the measures taken by the Mississippi police officers to conceal their acts of brutality?
”Sickening Acts: Six Mississippi Police Officers Admit to Brutality and Concealment”
Subtitle: Shocking Police Brutality Case Uncovers Horrific Treatment of Black Victims
Date: [Insert Date]
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Six police officers in Mississippi have shockingly pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges after subjecting two Black men to an unthinkable 90-minute ordeal of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. In an attempt to hide their actions, the officers engaged in a series of deceitful measures.
The disturbing incident took place on January 24, when a white neighbor racially profiled two Black men staying with a white woman in a Braxton home. Rankin County Deputy Brett McAlpin, along with Deputy Christian Dedmon and other white deputies, formed a group known as “The Goon Squad,” taking part in an unjustifiable mission of violence.
Without a warrant, the officers forcibly entered the home, handcuffing Michael Corey Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker, and subjecting them to a range of horrific abuses. The officers went as far as pouring milk, alcohol, and chocolate syrup over their faces, forcing them to undress and shower together, and even shocking them with stun guns. While intending to inflict torment without visible scars, one officer went too far and shot Jenkins in the mouth, causing severe injuries.
An investigation conducted by The Associated Press exposed that some of the deputies involved in this appalling incident had previous links to other abusive conduct.
This is not just a case of a few bad apples, it’s systemic brutality that needs to be addressed urgently.