Tadarrius Bean: Memphis cop involved in Tyre Nichols killing was part of controversial fraternity
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Tadarrius Bean, one of the five ex-Memphis cops who were charged with murder in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop, served the role of president of a scandalous fraternity named 'Omega Psi Phi' known for its troubling incidents in the recent years. According to the 24-year-old cop's LinkedIn page, he was the president of the 'Eta Zeta' chapter of the fraternity operating at the University of Mississippi.
The five police officers including Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were fired from duty following their failure to intervene, failure to offer aid to Nichols, and for using excessive force after the motorist was pulled over for suspected reckless driving. On Thursday, January 24, they were indicted for killing Nichols, a FedEx employee, and a father of a four-year-old son, who died on January 10, three days after the confrontation.
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What is 'Omega Psi Phi' fraternity?
In 1911, the 'Omega Psi Phi' fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, DC, “On the front line, leveraging its power, influence, and more than 100 years of commitment to the uplift of our people and our communities,” reads the website of Omega based in the historically black college.
However, contradicting their statement, in recent years the fraternity and its members have been part of several scandalous incidents. According to The Virginian-Pilot, the Omega chapter at Norfolk's Old Dominion University operations ceased following several troubling incidents which involved pledges, or people attempting to be part of the group with at least one being hospitalized. Disturbing incidents include beating the group's newcomers' and some were even asked to pour hot sauce down their pants or chug it for the simulation of a sexually transmitted disease.
As part of a bizarre 'welcoming ritual,' a 45-year-old man wanting to join the group at one of Omega's chapters in Brooklyn was assaulted. Between 150 to 200 times, his testicles and buttocks were paddled. This incident led to the charging of two members of the group with hazing and assault, the New York Post reported.
Following the release of the horrifying body-cam footage on Friday, January 27 that showed the fatal beating of Nichols on January 7, outrage sparked across the US on Saturday, January 28. After posting a bond between $250,000 and $350,000 bail, all five former officers including Bean were released. The cops were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, official oppression, and official conduct in connection to the brutal killing of Nichols.