Six Mississippi Lawmen, Torture, Mississippi 2024

Six Mississippi Lawmen Sentenced to Long Prison Terms for Torturing Two Black Men

Washington, D.C. - In a landmark case, six former Mississippi law enforcement officers have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in torturing two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi.

The defendants, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield, were each sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 40 years by Senior District Judge Tom Lee.

The victims, who were handcuffed and arrested without probable cause, suffered severe physical abuse, including being punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted. One of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, 'The depravity of the crimes committed by these defendants cannot be overstated, and they will now spend between 10 and 40 years in prison for their heinous attack on citizens they had sworn to protect.'

The FBI's investigation, which was conducted in collaboration with federal and state partners, revealed that the defendants had gathered outside the victims' home to concoct a cover story while the victims lay bleeding on the floor.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, 'By holding these officers accountable, we are sending a clear message that law enforcement abuse of Black people, or any American, will not be tolerated in our country.'

The defendants' actions not only scarred the victims physically and emotionally but also harmed the entire community, stripping away their sense of security and corroding trust in law enforcement.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Todd Gee, stated, 'We expect our law enforcement officers to take seriously their oath to be our protectors, but these defendants instead chose to be predators on a hate-fueled power trip.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/six-former-mississippi-law-enforcement-officers-sentenced-torturing-and-abusing-two