The Department of Justice initiates a civil rights investigation into the sheriff's office in Mississippi, where deputies allegedly subjected two Black men to torture in the infamous 'Goon Squad' case.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will probe if the Rankin County Sheriff's Department engages in unjustified use of force, racially biased policing towards Black residents, and conducts unlawful stops, searches, and arrests, announced US Attorney General Merrick Garland in a press release on Thursday. This is the 12th such investigation into law enforcement misconduct initiated under the Biden administration. Rankin County is situated east of Jackson, the state capital.
This inquiry comes after five former Rankin County sheriff's deputies and a former Richland police officer were given significant prison terms following their guilty pleas to federal and state charges associated with the January 2023 torture of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker. Several of the accused were reportedly part of a group of deputies known as the "Goon Squad" due to their penchant for excessive force and failure to report such incidents, according to federal prosecutors.
This squad of White officers raided a house in Braxton without a warrant, subjected the two Black men to racist slurs, used Tasers on them even after they were handcuffed, and beat them with various objects – one of them shooting Jenkins in the mouth, prosecutors claimed. The officers went to the house following a neighbor's report of several Black men staying at a White woman's home and observing suspicious activity.
Parker was a frequent guest at the homeowner's place, according to the prosecutors. He was living there and assisting with her care. Jenkins was temporarily living at the house.
The six officers – sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, and police officer Joshua Hartfield – received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years in federal court in March. They were then sentenced in state court to 15 to 45 years in prison, which will run concurrently with their federal sentences.
Following their federal sentencing in March, Garland remarked that the heinous nature of these defendants' crimes could not be overstated.
In response to an inquiry by CNN, attorneys for Parker and Jenkins stated that the investigation was "a vital initial step towards rectifying the sheriff's department and hold Rankin County legally responsible for years of constitutional violations committed against its citizens."
CNN contacted the state's attorney general, department of public safety, and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation for comment but did not receive a prompt response.
Calls for Sheriff's Resignation Gain Momentum
Since the heinous actions of the "Goon Squad" were made public, the Justice Department's civil rights division has received additional reports of the department's deputies excessively using Tasers, breaking into homes illegally, employing racial slurs, and deploying harmful, malicious tactics against individuals in their custody, Assistant US Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated in Thursday's release.
"Based on a thorough examination of publicly available information and complaints submitted to us, we have solid grounds to initiate a pattern or practice investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Department," Clarke said in the release.
The five Rankin County officers were under the authority of Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who was re-elected in December despite the disturbing events in the torture of Parker and Jenkins making national headlines and affecting the community. The sheriff has faced increasing demands to relinquish his post in recent months, owing to allegations of lax oversight, monitoring, and discipline of his deputies.
Bailey has maintained that he was unaware of the "Goon Squad" of deputies until federal charges were filed in August 2023, expressing remorse by stating that he was "ashamed," and the law enforcement badge was tainted by the criminal actions of these individuals.
The sheriff's office has since implemented a series of modifications to the agency's patrol policies and procedures, but community leaders believe these changes are insufficient.
In a statement to CNN, the Rankin County Sheriff's Department stated that it has enhanced transparency by "posting our policies and procedures, as well as our compliments and complaints portal," on its website.
"We will maintain this transparency and will collaborate fully with all aspects of this investigation while welcoming DOJ's input into our updated policies and practices," the statement continued.
Rankin County NAACP President Angela English, who is spearheading an effort to remove Bailey from office, said in a statement to CNN that she is "elated that justice is being served."
English said the branch is "aiming to garner a lot of participation from people in the public who may not have come forward yet" and announced a listening session at Pilgrim Red Baptist Church in Brandon on Thursday evening for the public to share their experiences with the sheriff's department.
The civil rights investigation is separate from the federal criminal case against the six officers, confirmed Garland, and will involve a "comprehensive review" of the department's policies, training, and supervision, as well as its accountability mechanisms. Federal investigators will contact community groups and members of the public to gather information about their experiences with the Rankin County Sheriff's Department, which has been notified about the investigation and has pledged to cooperate, Garland said.
After the incident last January, Parker and Jenkins attempted, for months, to share their story – only to be disbelieved by many. Following the state sentencing hearing in April, Parker told CNN that his purpose now is to advocate on behalf of others who cannot or are too scared to do so.
"I've come across individuals who are still hesitant to speak up, man," Parker pointed out. "I'm putting it out there that anyone who's feeling scared or needs a shoulder to lean on, I'll go to their turf if I have to. I'm determined to make sure no one else has to suffer like this, feeling fearful or intimidated about anything."
Credit to CNN's Devon M. Sayers for this piece.
The US Attorney General Merrick Garland mentioned that this investigation is important for the Rankin County community, as it could help rectify the sheriff's department and hold the county legally responsible for past constitutional violations towards its citizens.
Furthermore, the community leaders believe that the changes implemented by the sheriff's office are insufficient and continue to demand Sheriff Bryan Bailey's resignation, led by the Rankin County NAACP President Angela English.
