Artis Whitehead, a man exonerated after spending over 20 years in prison, has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Memphis and 10 police officers. Whitehead, 61, alleges that officers fabricated evidence to convict him in a 2002 armed robbery at B.B. King’s Blues Club, leading to his wrongful imprisonment.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages for the years of liberty Whitehead lost due to what he calls a “miscarriage of justice” by the Memphis Police Department.
The Crime: B.B. King’s Blues Club Robbery
The incident occurred on May 9, 2002, when an armed robber entered B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street in Memphis. The suspect attempted to access the club’s safe but failed. He then held five people hostage in a basement office, tying their hands and feet. One hostage was shot while trying to wrestle the gun away from the robber, who escaped with money and jewelry.
Despite multiple leads, the lawsuit claims police ignored critical evidence, including accurate descriptions of the robber, and improperly dismissed other suspects. Instead, officers coerced a man facing unrelated armed robbery charges into implicating Whitehead by calling in an anonymous tip.
Fabricated Evidence and Wrongful Conviction
Whitehead, who is Black, was arrested, tried, and sentenced in 2003 to a staggering 249 years in prison. The lawsuit accuses Memphis officers of fabricating identifications of Whitehead by club employees and creating a false narrative to secure a conviction under public pressure.
His defense argued that the actual robber was described as short and slim, while Whitehead is 6 feet tall and muscular. Furthermore, prosecutors failed to present any physical evidence linking Whitehead to the scene or testimony that he had ever been to Beale Street or B.B. King’s Blues Club.
In December 2023, a judge threw out Whitehead’s conviction, declaring that the case was built on fabricated evidence. Whitehead was released after more than two decades behind bars.
Whitehead: “No Price Tag” for Lost Years
At a press conference Monday, Whitehead reflected on the emotional toll of his wrongful conviction.
“There is no price tag for what my family and I have experienced,” Whitehead said. Now living in Nashville and working two jobs, Whitehead is trying to rebuild his life and reconnect with his children, who grew up during his imprisonment.
The Memphis Police Department declined to comment, and the City of Memphis has not responded to requests for a statement.
Systemic Issues in the Memphis Police Department
Whitehead’s lawsuit comes amid mounting scrutiny of the Memphis Police Department following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The investigation was launched after the high-profile January 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man, by five Memphis police officers who were later fired and charged.
The DOJ report, released earlier this month, found that Memphis officers have a pattern of using excessive force and discriminating against Black residents. The findings highlight what Whitehead’s attorneys describe as a long-standing culture of misconduct within the department.
“Mr. Whitehead’s wrongful conviction is not an isolated occurrence,” the lawsuit states. “His odyssey through the criminal legal system was instigated by a Memphis Police Department that has and continues to devalue the lives of people of color.”
Seeking Justice and Accountability
The lawsuit names 10 police officers involved in the original investigation and accuses them of deliberately targeting Whitehead to close the case amid mounting public and business pressure. It also points to the systemic failures within the police department that allowed such misconduct to occur.
Whitehead’s legal team is seeking justice through a jury trial, arguing that the actions of law enforcement led to decades of “mental anguish, humiliation, and emotional suffering.”
While the legal process begins, Whitehead’s case has reignited calls for accountability and reform within the Memphis Police Department. For now, he remains focused on reclaiming the years he lost.
