Patric J. Ferguson, Civil Rights and Kidnapping, Tennessee 2021

Former Memphis Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Kidnapping and Weapons Offenses

A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H.

The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.'s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Joshua M. Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.'s body in the Wolf River in Memphis.

The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.'s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office's Tarnished Badge Task Force and Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In a statement, the authorities said that the investigation was ongoing and that no further information would be released at this time. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section.

BREAKING: Former Memphis Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Kidnapping and Weapons Offenses

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-memphis-police-officer-charged-federal-civil-rights-kidnapping-and-weapons-offenses