Tennessee cop charged with kidnapping, killing man while on duty
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee police officer was charged with kidnapping a man in a squad car while on duty and fatally shooting him, authorities said.
Patric Ferguson, a Memphis police officer since 2018, was charged in the death of Robert Howard, 30, of Memphis. Howard was reported missing Wednesday, Memphis police said in a statement Sunday on Twitter.
“After a review of the evidence in the case, it was found that Ferguson acting on his own accord, armed himself with his personal handgun, encountered the victim outside his residence, and forced the victim in the rear of a squad car,” the statement read.
Ferguson, 29, was fired following his arrest, the statement said.
After forcing the victim into the police car, he then drove to an area near Frayser Boulevard and Denver Street, where he shot and Killed Howard. An acquaintance, Joshua Rogers, 28, was charged with helping Ferguson relocate Howard’s body.
Ferguson gad been assigned to the Tillman Station area and had been employed with MPD since October. 2018.
“No one is above the law. Knowing that a Memphis Police Officer, someone who took an oath to protect and serve, made the decision to commit this horrific crime is devastating,” MPD Director Michael Rallings said in a written statement. “His actions were not that of a law enforcement officer and should not reflect on fellow officers.
The 29-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of aggravated kidnapping. Rogers was charged with accessory after the fact. Both were charged with abuse of a corpse and fabricating and tampering with evidence.
It wasn’t immediately known whether Ferguson or Rogers have attorneys who could comment on their behalf.
