MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Otis Sanford reporting:
In the immediate aftermath of the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols, social media chatter claimed the incident represented far more than just a group of out of control officers. Posts claimed that it was personal — perhaps even a vendetta against Nichols.
Now, official police documents are lending credence to what had been social media rumors. Demetrious Haley, one of the officers fired and later charged with second degree murder, took photographs of Nichols after the beating and shared them with at least five people, including a female acquaintance.
It's just one of many violations allegedly committed by the officers involved in Nichols' assault. The now-former cops also turned off their body cameras during the incident and later filed false police reports, but it's the image captured on a skycop camera of Haley taking two photos of Nichols that feeds the notion of a personal vendetta.
We don't know that for sure, which is why it is important for police chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis or someone in authority to address whether Haley had a personal beef with Nichols.
Surely investigators know by now if there was a personal connection involving Haley; Nichols and the female acquaintance, and the public deserves to know as well.
The horrendous beating of Nichols captured the nation's attention, including the president and his administration. It's time for local authorities to get all pertinent information out in the open.
I'm Otis Sanford, and that's my point of view.