Memphis Police Officers Placed On Administrative Leave Following Controversial Pepper Spray Deployment At No Kings Day Protest

Memphis police investigate the use of pepper spray at the No Kings Day protest as three men face charges for disorderly conduct and obstructing passage.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 3:44 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Action News 5

Judicial Proceedings for Detained Rally Participants

David Rahaim, Adam Nelson, and Reuben Burch stood before a judge on March 30, following their arrests during the large scale "No Kings Day" demonstrations in Memphis. The trio faces a variety of misdemeanor charges, including resisting detention and disorderly conduct, after a chaotic confrontation with law enforcement on Saturday. While six individuals were initially detained, these three men are the primary subjects of the current legal filings. The court has scheduled a follow up appearance in thirty days as defense attorneys begin reviewing the circumstances of the arrests.

Controversy Surrounding March Permits and Route

A central point of contention between organizers and the city government involves the legal authorization for the weekend’s activities. The Memphis Police Department asserts that the permit granted to Indivisible Memphis was strictly for a stationary community resource fair and did not include provisions for a march through city streets. Law enforcement officials claim they instructed participants to remain on sidewalks for forty minutes before taking action. Conversely, protest leaders argue that the event was peaceful for several hours and that the police response was an unnecessary attempt to intimidate the massive crowd.

Police Conduct and Administrative Consequences

In the wake of the demonstration, the City of Memphis confirmed that multiple police officers have been placed on administrative leave. This decision follows viral reports and eyewitness accounts of officers using pepper spray on "marshals" and tackling participants as the march neared its end. Lucci Schambless, an attendee who witnessed the escalation, described the scene as absolutely chaotic, noting that force was applied to individuals who appeared to be returning to the designated park area. The specific number of officers sidelined during the internal affairs investigation has not yet been disclosed by city officials.