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The US has a “new clock” on police accountability following the quick arrest and firing of five officers charged over the death of Tyre Nichols, influential civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton has said.

Speaking at a rally in Harlem, New York, Reverend Sharpton also rejected the idea that there was no race element to the fatal beating of Mr Nichols by the officers just because they themselves are black.

It comes after Memphis Police released bodycam footage showing police beating the 29-year-old for three minutes while screaming profanities at him throughout the attack.

Warning: This article contains violent images

Five officers have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes, including assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, over Mr Nichols’ death.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Harlem. Featuring: Rev. Al Sharpton Where: New York, New York, United States When: 16 Jan 2023 Credit: TheNews2/Cover Images  (Cover Images via AP Images)
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Al Sharpton on January 16. Pic: AP.

Following an internal investigation in which they were found they used excessive force or failed to intervene, the officers were also dismissed by Memphis Police Department’s Chief of Police, Cerelyn Davis.

Ms Davis, who became the force’s first black female boss in 2021, previously called for “sweeping changes and police reform” in the aftermath of the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Reverend Sharpton, making a speech at a weekly National Action Network rally, said: “So there’s a new precedent set now ‘cos this black women police chief messed you up now – ‘cos she said I’m not waiting on nothing – arrest them, fire them.

“You now got a new clock on police accountability. We don’t want to hear no year investigation.”

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Timeline of violent arrest

Arrest video is sickening indictment of policing that night

Addressing the involvement of race, he said: “One person said to me well at least it ain’t about race.

“I said the race part of it is those black guys thought they could get away with doing it to a black guy.

“You know you couldn’t get away with doing that in Tennessee to a white guy – and you won’t get away with doing it to a black guy either.”

An officer beats Tyre Nichols with his baton.
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An officer beats Tyre Nichols with his baton

Meanwhile, at a press conference of city leaders held on Saturday, state representative Joe Towns Jr, echoed the comments of Reverend Sharpton on the force’s prompt investigation.

He also said police chief Davis had his full support, praising her for taking “swift action”.

The comments came as a memorial fund set up in the aftermath of Mr Nichols topped $535,000 (£433,000).

The GoFundMe page, set up by Mr Nichols’s mother, is aimed at helping to pay for a memorial skate park in his honour, as well as to allow his family time off from their jobs to grieve and seek justice.

On Saturday, police released four separate videos cut into one hour-long clip, including police bodycam footage and footage from a CCTV camera of the attack on Mr Nichols.

Tyre Nichols
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Tyre Nichols called out for his mother three times as he was being beaten

In the footage, Mr Nichols can be heard screaming “mom, mom” several times as the beating unfolds. He was 80 yards (73 metres) from his family home, according to his mother.

Police chief Davis asked for calm before the video footage was made public.

“I expect you to feel what the Nichols family feels,” she said. “I expect you to feel outrage in the disregard of basic human rights.”

Protests are taking place in at least nine cities across the US – including Memphis – after the bodycam footage was released.

Mr Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, had earlier warned supporters of the “horrific” nature of the video but pleaded for peace saying “tearing up the streets” is “not what my son stood for”.

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‘They killed a man who looked like me’

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death”.

“It is yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that black and brown Americans experience every single day,” he added.

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Scottie Scheffler: Golf star ‘rattled’ and ‘in shock’ after being arrested by police

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Scottie Scheffler: Golf star 'rattled' and 'in shock' after being arrested by police

World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler says he was “rattled” and “in shock” after he was arrested and charged by police this morning.

The 27-year-old reportedly tried to get around a traffic jam caused by a fatal accident near the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, at around 6am local time (11am UK time) on Friday.

He is due to appear in court on Tuesday after being charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.

Scheffler was released at 8:40am local time (1:40pm UK time) and allowed to return to the golf course to play his second round of the PGA Championship, where he currently sits three shots off the lead.

Speaking to reporters after his round, Scheffler said: “It was a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding. My head is still spinning.

“I spent some time warming up in a jail cell, which was a first for me.

“I was pretty rattled, to say the least… I was never angry, I was just in shock. I was shaking for about an hour.

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“Coming out here and trying to play today was definitely a challenge, but I did my best to control my mind and control my breathing… just try to play golf.

“I knew there was going to be a lot of distractions… but to be honest, it was great having the fans behind me. I felt they were really glad to have me out here competing today.”

Police earlier released a mugshot taken of Scheffler while he was wearing an orange jailed-issued jumpsuit.

The fatal crash occurred this morning when a bus struck and killed a man as he was crossing the road near the front gate of the Valhalla Golf Club.

 Scottie Scheffler tees off No. 10 to begin his second round of the PGA Championship, May 17, 2024, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Pic: AP
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Scottie Scheffler tees off hours after being detained and handcuffed. Pic: AP

Tournament officials said they were “devastated” by the death of local man John Mills, who was working for an on-site vendor at Valhalla.

Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, was allegedly trying to drive around the crash site when he failed to stop for a police officer.

An officer is then said to have grabbed on to Scheffler’s car.

The golfer drove around 10 to 20 yards before stopping his vehicle at the entrance to Valhalla, according to an ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington who was on the scene.

Darlington said: “At that point the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car.

“He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it. He reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs.”

According to the police report, a detective stopped Scheffler’s car and “attempted to give instruction”.

The report continued: “Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knees.

“He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel. Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair.”

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 17: Fans look on as Scottie Scheffler walks off the No. 10 tee box after beginning his second round of the PGA Championship, May 17, 2024, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Pic: AP
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Scottie Scheffler was given a roar of support as he teed off in the second round. Pic: AP

In a statement, Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines said the player was proceeding as directed by a traffic officer and is alleged to have disregarded signals from another officer “in the confusion”.

“Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed that he did not do anything wrong but was simply proceeding as directed,” the statement added.

“He stopped immediately upon being directed to and never at any point assaulted any officer with his vehicle. We will litigate this matter as needed.”

Speaking after a second round, Scheffler expressed his sympathies to the family of Mr Mills.

“I can’t imagine what they’re going through this morning,” Scheffler said.

“My situation will get handled… I can’t get into what transpired… my heart goes out to the family.”

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P Diddy: ‘Gut-wrenching’ video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

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P Diddy: 'Gut-wrenching' video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

“Gut-wrenching” CCTV footage which appears to show Sean Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel “has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour” of the rapper, her lawyer has said.

The 54-year-old, whose homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents in March, has faced a series of public allegations of physical and sexual violence.

Footage obtained by CNN appears to show Combs also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy – wearing only a white towel as he punches and kicks Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on 5 March 2016.

The R&B singer, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, was his protege and girlfriend at the time.

Read more: What is Sean Combs accused of and what has he said?

The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging her across the floor, as well as throwing a vase in her direction.

It closely resembles the description of an incident at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles described in a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November that alleged years of sexual abuse and other violence from Combs.

The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Several more lawsuits were filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

Representatives for Combs did not immediately comment on the video. He has previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits and his lawyers have said he denies any wrongdoing.

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P Diddy’s homes raided

Cassie’s lawyer said: “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs.

“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

According to NBC News, Sky News’ US partner, if Cassie were to make a complaint the LAPD could investigate, but charges would likely be declined by the district attorney because California law has a one-year statute of limitations for assault and the alleged incident happened nearly eight years ago.

CNN did not say how it obtained the video, but noted it verified the location it was shot by comparing the footage to publicly available images of the InterContinental Hotel.

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Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

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Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

A homeless man has been charged over the random attack on Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi on a New York Street earlier this month.

The 66-year-old Broadwalk Empire and Fargo star was punched in the face by a stranger while he was walking in midtown Manhattan on 8 May, city police said.

He was taken to hospital with bruising, swelling and bleeding to his left eye but was otherwise fine, his publicist said at the time.

A man wanted in connection with the attack was arrested on Friday, police said.

The 50-year-old homeless man was charged with second-degree assault in the same precinct where Buscemi was attacked.

Authorities announced on Tuesday they had identified the man as the suspect and were searching for him.

Buscemi’s publicist previously said the actor was “another victim of a random act of violence in the city” but he was OK.

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The attack came after Buscemi’s Boardwalk Empire co-star Michael Stuhlbarg was hit in the back of the neck with a rock while walking in Manhattan’s Central Park in March.

Stuhlbarg chased his attacker, who was arrested and charged over the incident.

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