DOJ probing sheriff's office in Mississippi "Goon Squad" case

The Justice Department connected Thursday announced it is opening a civilian authorities investigation into Rankin County, Mississippi, and nan Rankin County Sheriff's Department. A group of nan agency's erstwhile officers — who called themselves nan "Goon Squad" — pleaded guilty past twelvemonth to a bid of charges for torturing 2 Black men.

"The nationalist is now good alert of nan heinous onslaught inflicted connected 2 Black men by Rankin County deputies who called themselves nan 'Goon Squad,'" said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland successful a statement. "Those officers person since been convicted and sentenced, but we are launching this civilian shape aliases believe investigation to analyse superior allegations that nan Rankin County Sheriff's Department systematically violates people's law authorities done excessive usage of force; unlawful stops, searches, and arrests; and discriminatory policing."

Garland said nan allegations against nan sheriff's section see overusing tasers, utilizing group slurs, entering homes illegally and accusations deputies person "deployed dangerous, sadistic strategies to battle group successful their custody."

The Justice Department said Rankin County officials person said they will cooperate pinch nan investigation.

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department made nationalist headlines erstwhile 5 erstwhile deputies, on pinch 1 erstwhile Richland, Mississippi, constabulary officer, were accused of torturing 2 Black men — Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker — successful January of 2023.

FThis operation of photos shows, from apical left, erstwhile Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and erstwhile Richland constabulary serviceman Joshua Hartfield. Rogelio V. Solis / AP

All six erstwhile officers pleaded blameworthy to a bid of authorities and national charges, admitting to breaking into a location without a warrant and torturing Jenkins and Parker for hours, going truthful acold arsenic to sprout 1 of them successful nan mouth. The men were besides beaten, tased many times and assaulted pinch a activity toy, prosecutors said.

The group of erstwhile officers had arrived astatine nan Braxton, Mississippi, location aft a White personification called Rankin County Sheriff's Deputy Brett McAlpin to kick astir 2 Black men staying pinch a White woman. McAlpin told Christian Dedmon, different deputy, who past texted a group of White deputies internally known for utilizing excessive unit who called themselves nan "Goon Squad," according to prosecutors.

McAlpin, Dedmon and chap erstwhile deputies Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke — on pinch erstwhile Richland constabulary serviceman Joshua Hartfield — were each sentenced to decades successful prison connected some authorities and national charges earlier this year.

In:
• Mississippi