‘Beat first ask no questions later’: The limelight has finally been shone on Rankin County law enforcement
Five ex-Rankin County Sheriff’s deputies and one former Richmond police officer have pleaded guilty to a multitude of state and federal charges. Prosecutors seek nearly half a $billion from a county with a history of racism and Police Brutality.
On Jan. 24 2023 Michael Jenkins — a caretaker to a White Woman labeled “J.W.” by court documents — and Eddie Parker were residing in a home located in Conerly Road( Braxton MS.). Parker— a longtime friend of Jenkins-was living at the Braxton Residence temporarily
That was until Hunter Elward — a then member of the FBI’s violent crimes task force — and five other Mississippi law enforcement officers simultaneously kicked in the back and carport door, surreptitious to the security cameras case documents say.
Based on police and court records in Rankin County obtained by the US Department of Justice — Elward along with Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Jefferey Middleton, Joshua Hartfield, and Daniel Opdyke handcuffed, tortured, sexually assaulted, and shouted obscenities and racial slurs at the two Black men for nearly two hours.
In an exclusive interview with Democracy Now Jenkins, Parker, and their legal representation Malik Shabazz — a civil rights attorney with Black Lawyers for Justice — go into detail about the horrendous acts of the six former law enforcement officers on the Jan. 24 night.
They also expose the corrupt history of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, and how they will use that as evidence in part with the January hate crime in a $400 million lawsuit they have filed against Rankin County.
Shabazz describes Rankin County and the city of Braxton as a sort of “Antithesis” to the proximal majority Black Hinds County and the city of Jackson.
A White neighbor of Brett McAlpin — unnamed by court documents — called the off-duty Chief Investigator to inform him that there were Black men at the Conerly Rd. residence and that he had observed suspicious behavior.
The residence that the neighbor knew to be occupied by a White woman — initialed “K.W.” by court documents — was then honed in on by the six men who went by the “Goon Squad”. They called themselves this for their propensity to use violent force without reporting it.
“Where are the drugs!” Dedmond yelled as a flimsy justification for barging into the home without a warrant. Court documents show that the former officers left behind a paper trail of text messages that included framing the men by planting methamphetamines at the scene.
After the beating, Jenkins was charged with a felony drug charge he was told he could get out of if he kept quiet. The charge was later dropped.
The men were tased upwards of fifteen times. It was a game to the former officers, court documents say they were having a competition to see whose tazer was the strongest. They were waterboarded — a CIA interrogation tactic that’s been executively outlawed circa 2009 — with milk, grease, and other liquids until they gagged.
The men were also beaten severely. Some of the officers opted for numerous kicks and blows in the ribs others decided to use weapons such as wood planks and a metal sword. All of this excessive force administered while the defenseless men lay in handcuffs. One officer even sexually assaulted the men with a sex toy attached to a BB gun found in one of the bedrooms.
But perhaps the most horrific of all the incidents that transpired that night; in a “mock execution” Hunter Elward shoved his gun into the mouth of Jenkins for nearly a minute according to Shabazz. Thinking that the gun was cleared Elward fired twice, the second shot loaded the gun and shot straight through the back of Jenkins’ neck. His tongue now lacerated and jaw broken- he will likely never speak the same again.
Let Rankin County Sheriff Brian Bailey tell it, and this type of policing isn’t indicative of him or his department. “All of the former deputies lied to me, that night of this incident,” the sheriff said. “I am sick to my stomach … I have tried to build a reputation, tried to have a safe county. They have robbed me of all of this, by the actions of these few,” Bailey continued in a press conference.
But it shouldn’t have had to come by word of mouth.
Regarding the January 24 incident, court documents state that the officer’s body cams were turned off and that they confiscated the home security camera footage.
But this is only the latest of many mishaps at the hands of Rankin County law enforcement.
“It’s a long time coming…” Said Parker to Democracy Now. “They go out and do the opposite of what they're supposed to do.” He continued.
In July 2021 Elward arrived at Damian Cameron’s Rankin County home in response to a report of vandalism nearby. While specific details are still foggy, we know Cameron died in police custody. Three witnesses present during Cameron’s arrest claimed to have seen Elward and another officer nealing on Cameron, making it hard for him to breathe.
Shabazz compared Cameron's death to George Floyd’s, alleging that Elward and another deputy murdered Cameron via asphyxiation.
Shabazz also claims that Rankin County and Brian Bailey “ refused to provide the state medical examiner with information to reach a proper conclusion because they were all protecting the officers from criminal prosecution.”.
A State Grand Jury declined to indict the officers involved due to a lack of evidence in Oct. 2022. However, given the circumstances, this case will be coming back into the light according to Shabazz.
The Civil rights Attorney makes it very clear that Bailey is plenty to blame for his department's misconduct.
In March 2023 Bailey was deemed not exempt by a federal judge from a wrongful death lawsuit involving Pierre Woods. Woods was gunned down by multiple law enforcement agencies in Pelahatchie MS. Court documents say that Bailey is individually liable because:
“He was present at the scene; he was actively involved in the negotiations; and he played an important role in the use of alleged excessive force which led to woods’ death.”
The “excessive force” referred to is a bit too naive. Shabazz claims Bailey was present when he -one of the law enforcement officers-
“shot him[Woods] nine times [while on the ground] with his rifle and the man was no threat to him,”.
Woods- who had mental issues- later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The prosecutors are demanding that Bailey resign immediately.
“He [Brian Bailey] is part of a pattern, a practice, a culture and a custom of terrorism by his department … Black White rich poor they have all been beaten by his officers… he's known this all along,” Bailey told Democracy Now. “ They beat you they kill you and you are ordered not to say anything about it.”.
Listed below are all of the state charges each of the men has been charged with according to the Mississippi Attorney General's office:
- Former Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Hunter Elward was charged with Aggravated Assault, Home Invasion, and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
- Former Rankin County Sheriff Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon was charged with Home Invasion and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
- Former Rankin County Sheriff Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
- Former Rankin County Sheriff Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
- Former Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Daniel Opdyk was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
- Former Richland Police Department Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.
“Today, a strong message has been sent: abuse of power will not be tolerated inMississippi. I am grateful for the collaboration and cooperation of our state andfederal counterparts who helped us deliver justice for the two victims of thisbrutal attack,”.- Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch
The “Rankin Six” are scheduled to hear federal sentencing on Nov. 3. The six former officers will remain in custody until then.
