In a chilling revelation, nine Memphis jail deputies have been indicted in connection with the death of 33-year-old Gershun Freeman, a Black man who died while in custody last fall. The incident occurred during a confrontation where jailers allegedly punched, kicked, and kneeled on Freeman's back while he was having a psychotic episode. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner announced the indictments during a press conference, but did not disclose the names of the deputies or the charges they face. The Associated Press was unable to obtain the indictments, as they were sealed.

Freeman's family, who are currently pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Sheriff Bonner, confirmed the existence of the sealed indictments. Their lawyers emphasized that the charges against the jailers are serious, but did not provide further details. According to the attorneys, the video evidence shows that Freeman was subjected to severe physical abuse, including being struck with handcuffs, rings of jail keys, and pepper spray cannisters. Freeman had a history of psychosis and cardiovascular disease, and the medical examiner's report indicated that he died of a heart attack while being restrained.

The autopsy report from the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center listed Freeman's manner of death as a homicide, although it clarified that this did not definitively indicate criminal intent. As a result, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into the case. District Attorney Glenn Funk from Nashville is serving as an independent prosecutor for the case.

This incident comes at a time when Memphis is already grappling with the aftermath of another fatal beating of a Black motorist, Tyre Nichols, by Memphis police in January. Nichols' arrest, which was recorded on video, involved him being punched, hit with a baton, kicked, and pepper-sprayed. The five officers involved were charged with second-degree murder and federal civil rights violations. Their trial is ongoing, and they have pleaded not guilty.

Freeman's family and Nichols' family held a joint news conference in March, during which they called for the deputies involved in Freeman's case to be held accountable. Freeman had been booked into the jail on October 1 on charges of attacking and kidnapping his girlfriend.

The video evidence of the incident shows two corrections officers serving meals to inmates in a narrow hallway when Freeman's cell opens, and he runs out naked, seemingly charging at the officers. A struggle ensues, during which Freeman is wrestled to the ground, punched, kicked, and pepper-sprayed by multiple officers. More deputies join the altercation, and they eventually move Freeman to a different hallway.

The video switches to another camera angle, showing Freeman wrapping himself around an officer's legs in a different hallway. Freeman is then seen running up an escalator, still naked. In another hallway, officers continue to struggle with Freeman, attempting to restrain him. Eventually, they manage to get him face-down on the ground, where they continue to step and kneel on his back. Freeman becomes motionless, and an officer remains on his back for several minutes before he is lifted. He appears limp when lifted, with his head falling forward between his knees and his hands cuffed behind his back. Medical personnel arrive shortly after, and the video cuts off.

Sheriff Bonner, who is currently running for mayor of Memphis, has placed the indicted deputies on paid administrative leave. He vehemently denies that his employees caused Freeman's death and alleges that the release of the video and the indictments are politically motivated. Bonner claims that Mulroy, the Shelby County district attorney, supports a different mayoral candidate. Mulroy, on the other hand, asserts that he endorsed candidate Van Turner before Freeman's death and recused himself from the investigation to avoid any potential influence.

Amidst the controversy, Brice Timmons, a lawyer representing Freeman's family, squarely places the blame on Sheriff Bonner, accusing him of supporting his officers and creating policies that allowed such an incident to occur. The release of the video was seen as a move towards transparency in an effort to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Freeman's tragic death. The case will undoubtedly continue to be closely monitored as the legal proceedings unfold.