Two Black Men Speak Out Against Six White Officers Who Subjected Them to Hours of Violence and Torture
Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins, two innocent men from Mississippi, shared their harrowing experiences of enduring brutal violence and torture at the hands of six White law enforcement officers last year. The incident culminated in Jenkins being shot in the mouth, an event that went unreported and undisbelieved for months until they filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against them in June.
Details of this unfortunate incident came to light gradually as the victims’ claims were later substantiated by federal prosecutors in August. Six former law enforcement officers from Mississippi, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, and Joshua Hartfield, pleaded guilty to a combined total of 13 felonies. These charges included conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.
On Monday afternoon, before the federal sentencing proceedings of these officers, Jenkins, Parker, their families, and attorneys will speak at a news conference in Jackson. The victims strongly believe that the motivation behind this violent act was based on their race, with some of these officers self-identifying as ‘The Goon Squad’ due to their tendency to use excessive force without reporting it.
The six former officers will be sentenced in the following order: Elward and Middleton on Tuesday, Dedmon and Opdyke on Wednesday, and Hartfield and McAlpin on Thursday. The federal prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentences for these officers in light of their serious offenses.
The two victims, who are expected to testify in court this week, will be accompanied by their lead attorney Malik Shabazz. During the news conference, Shabazz will discuss each defendant’s possibilities and expectations for sentencing proceedings and provide updates on the lawsuit against Rankin County and Sheriff Bryan Bailey.
Prior to these sentencing proceedings, Shabazz and his team met with the Justice Department on Friday to discuss their ‘expectations of justice’ for the upcoming court proceedings. The US Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Kristen Clarke, reached out to Jenkins, Parker, and their families, expressing her commitment to civil rights and eliminating racial intimidation under the color of law in Mississippi.
Elward faces the most serious federal charges stemming from this January incident, including discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, which could result in up to 30 years in prison. McAlpin, Middleton, Dedmon, Opdyke, and Hartfield each face up to 20 years in prison on their respective charges.
The incident took place in Braxton, Mississippi, just southeast of Jackson, on January 24, 2023. According to their lawsuit, Jenkins and Parker alleged that these officers illegally entered their home, handcuffed them, kicked, waterboarded, and tasered them for nearly two hours. They also attempted to sexually assault the victims and made repeated use of racial slurs throughout the ordeal.
Three of these officers, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke, also pleaded guilty in federal court to additional felonies related to a separate incident that occurred in December 2022. If convicted on these charges, all three men could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for deprivation of rights. Dedmon also faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the weapons charge.
The six former officers also pleaded guilty to state charges against them, including conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. Dedmon is charged with home invasion and Elward is charged with home invasion and aggravated assault. McAlpin, Middleton, Opdyke, and Hartfield each face an additional charge of first-degree obstruction of justice. They await sentencing on the state charges.
