Former Law Enforcement Officers in Mississippi Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offenses

Six white former law enforcement officers in Mississippi have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses after an incident in which two Black men were beaten, shocked with Tasers, and subjected to a “mock execution.” The incident occurred when the former officers raided a home without a warrant, handcuffing the men and using excessive force. One of the men was shot in the mouth, and a sex toy was forced into the other man’s mouth. The officers then attempted to cover up the attack and plant evidence. The former officers face varying sentences, with some potentially receiving life in prison. The guilty pleas were described as “historic for justice against rogue police torture and police brutality.” Mississippi Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said the officers had “egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect” and “shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers.”