Former Mississippi Cops sentenced in the torture of two Black Men

by

Devisadaria Duchine-Khauli

22 March 2024

In a packed courtroom filled with emotion, Joshua Hartfield was given a 10-year prison sentence in federal court on 21 March 2024. He was the final of six white ex-Mississippi law enforcement officers sentenced for his involvement in the torture of two Black men. During the three-day hearing, gripping testimonies revealed the horrifying violence inflicted by the group on the two men.

The Story Unfolds

On 24 January 2023, around 10:00 p.m., six officers arrived at a home in Braxton, Mississippi, after a white neighbor reported suspicious activity and complained about Black men reportedly living with a white woman.

The officers who arrived at the home of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker were Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jerffrey Middleton, Daniel Opydke, and Joshua Hartfield. The officers referred to themselves as the "Goon Squad.”

The now-former officers broke into the home without a warrant and proceeded to assault Jenkins and Parker in a racially-motivated attack. Jenkins and Parker were handcuffed and subjected and hour and a half of physical and mental abuse; including beatings, being called racial slurs, having milk, cooking oil, syrup, and alcohol poured in their faces, having eggs thrown at them, being electrocuted with stun guns, and sexually assaulted. The men were forced to shower together, reportedly to wash away evidence, including DNA of abuse. Also, reportedly McAlpin urinated in a closet during the assault. During a botched execution, Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth, causing him to suffer a tongue laceration, facial and neck injuries, and a broken jaw. Afterward, the officers planted a gun and drugs in the home and left Jenkins to die as they plotted their cover story.

Timeline Following the Attack

Following the attack, Michael Jenkins was charged with methamphetamine possession and aggravated assault on a police officer. Eddie Parker was charged with possession of  drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. The false charges against the men stood for months. After the termination and guilty pleas of the officers involved, the charges were finally dismissed.

On 14 February 2023, Jenkins was released from the hospital, following a three week stay for the injuries he sustained following being shot in the mouth.

On 15 February 2023, The Justice Department announced it has opened a civil rights investigation concerning this incident and others involving the Rankin County Sheriff's Office.

On 23 June 2023, the six officers were terminated, after an internal investigation. Initially, the men were placed on administrative leave. 

In August of 2023, the now former officers were charged with federal civil rights violations, including conspiracy against rights, obstruction of justice, and deprivation of rights under the color of law. All of the officers pled guilty to the charges.

Other Federal Investigations

This incident was just one in a series of documented cases of police misconduct in Rankin County. Many officers in Rankin County were associated with multiple violent incidents, with some resulting in fatalities.

In an incident dating back to 4 December 2022, Dedmon stopped a white man. During that stop, Dedmon beat, tased, and fired a gun near the head of the man in order to elicit a confession. Dedmon went on to sexually assault the man, while Elward, and Opdyke watched and refused to intervene. All the officers involved admitted guilt to three more federal charges, including depriving someone of their rights under the law, and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Calls for Bailey to step down, as victims files multi-million dollar lawsuit

Jenkins and Parker have filed a $400 million civil lawsuit against Rankin County and Sheriff Bryan Bailey. Several people and many civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, have called for Bailey to resign or be removed from office for overseeing and tolerating a culture of police brutality. Initially, Bailey sought to dismiss the lawsuit. However, following the officers' guilty verdicts, he pledged to make changes within the department but has refused to resign.

Victim says he forgives...

During his victim impact statement at Elward's sentencing, Parker stood up and told Elward that he forgives him. He also stated that while he forgives Elward and the rest. H also stated, “Elward still did what he did and he has to be punished.”