Five former Memphis police officers pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in the beating of Tyre Nichols, a man who died in police custody last year.

The officers were charged with violating Nichols’ civil rights and obstructing justice. The charges stem from an incident in which Nichols was beaten by officers after he was arrested for disorderly conduct in May 2020.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that the officers had used “unreasonable force” and “acted with deliberate indifference to Nichols’ constitutional rights.”

The case has sparked outrage in Memphis and nationwide, with activists and civil rights groups calling for justice for Nichols and his family.

In response to the charges, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner released a statement saying that the deputies involved in the incident had been suspended pending an internal investigation.

“We had no reason to be there,” Bonner said. “We must ensure that our deputies are held to the highest standards of conduct and that justice is served.”

The five officers are due back in court in March for a hearing on the charges.