Only weeks before his retrial was scheduled to begin, former Memphis police officer Bridges McRae has plead guilty to violating the civil rights of transgender woman Duanna Johnson. McRae agreed to a two-year prison sentence. Johnson was later killed in an unsolved shooting
The 2008 beating happened while McRae was booking Johnson into the Shelby County Jail. Despite graphic surveillance video of McRae beating Johnson and the testimony of fellow police officers, McRae's April 2010 trial ended in a mistrial. The vote was 11-1 for guilty. McRae was facing up to ten years and a retrial was scheduled for September.
The altercation began after Johnson became upset because McRae called her "Dwayne" and refused to call her Duanna. Fellow officers testified, and the tape showed, McRae wrapping his handcuffs around his fist, repeatedly punching Johnson in the head and then using his pepper spray. "I love to fight," McRae boasted to officers.
McRae's attorney says the 2-year sentence is "reasonable". Meanwhile: Civil suits are pending against the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis and Shelby County. And Duanna Johnson's killer remains on the loose. Watch it WHEN YOU JUMP ...
R20's complete coverage HERE.
yeah i think we all know unfortunately what happened to duanna and why the police "never found" the killers. poor girl, god rest her soul.
Posted by: Baltimore Femme | 27 August 2010 at 21:55
McRae's attorney says the 2-year sentence is ‘reasonable.’
Sure, if you believe black people are lower than dogs. Michael Vick got 23 months.
Posted by: Jim | 28 August 2010 at 01:32
I am from Memphis Tennessee and this is nothing compared to the decade of abuse from the MPD towards trans persons. A many have died just like her but covered up and know one responds..The city counsel just sits and let it happen. And this is the birth place of the COGIC..something is wrong with this picture.
Posted by: Min. BJ Baker | 30 August 2010 at 14:00
RIP DUANNA EVEN THO I DON'T KNO YOU BUT I DO KNO THAT WHAT HAPPENED 2 YOU WAS WRONG AND SHOULNT HAVE NEVER TAKEN PLACE THAT OFFICER NEEDS MORE THAN A 2 YR SENTENCE I HOPE THE JUDGE SEE'S THAT AS WELL
Posted by: kacey vest | 30 August 2010 at 19:06