Former Memphis Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Kidnapping and Weapons Offenses Related to Fatal Shooting

A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H. The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes.

The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.’s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office's Tarnished Badge Task Force and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.