A Memphis police officer was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and killing a man while on-duty last week, the department announced Saturday.
Patric Ferguson, 29, an officer with the Memphis Police Department since 2018, is charged with murdering 30-year-old Robert Howard, according to police.
“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,” Memphis Police Department Director Michael Rallings said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Ferguson is accused of first kidnapping Howard from his home and forcing the victim into his patrol car, police said.
The suspect, who has since been fired from the department, then allegedly drove to another area and in the city and fatally shot Howard, authorities said.
With the help of an acquaintance, identified by police as 28-year-old Joshua Rogers, Ferguson relocated Howard’s body.
A body, which is believed to be Howard, has been recovered, police said.
Authorities said Ferguson and the victim knew each other, but did not elaborate.
Howard’s girlfriend reported him missing last Wednesday and told police he had last been seen a day earlier.
In addition to murder, Ferguson was charged with kidnapping, abuse of a corpse and fabricating and tampering with evidence.
Rogers was charged with accessory after the fact, abuse of a corpse and fabricating and tampering with evidence.