Two white police officers in Canton, Ohio, appeared in court on Monday facing charges of reckless manslaughter in connection to the death of a Black man, Frank E. Tyson, who was pinned and handcuffed face down during an arrest.
During the April incident, Mr. Tyson, 53, repeatedly expressed that he could not breathe, but police officers did not reposition him for approximately seven minutes, as shown in body camera footage.
The Tyson family had anticipated more serious charges, with Mr. Tyson’s brother, John Tyson, stating, “It’s not the win that we was looking for,” but added that they would build upon this small victory.
Stark County prosecuting attorney Kyle L. Stone explained that after presenting witnesses and evidence to a grand jury, he “left the room,” and the grand jury selected the third-degree felony charge, which could result in a prison sentence of up to three years.
Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch, who have been placed on paid administrative leave, are facing calls from Tyson family supporters and local advocacy groups for their termination and for the Canton Police Department to implement a de-escalation policy and mandatory implicit bias training.
During the hearing, Bobby DiCello, the Tyson family attorney, requested that the presence of over 50 law enforcement officers at the courthouse not influence the proceedings.
The judge set a bond of $25,000 for each officer, which is standard for a third-degree felony in Stark County. The officers did not enter pleas, and their legal representatives did not immediately provide comments.
The situation escalated when Mr. Tyson crashed his vehicle into a utility pole and entered Post 124 of American Veterans, where patrons called 911 due to his behavior. Officers, upon their arrival, found Mr. Tyson resisting commands, stating, “You ain’t killing me. You ain’t killing me tonight.”
The body camera footage shows the officers forcing Mr. Tyson to the ground and handcuffing him, maintaining him in a prone restraint position, which is meant to be temporary for securing a resistant person. Police training emphasizes the dangers of leaving individuals in this position for prolonged periods.
As Mr. Tyson repeatedly stated he could not breathe, one officer reportedly replied, “You’re fine.” The cause of Mr. Tyson’s death was ruled a homicide, with contributing factors including cardiovascular disease, cocaine and alcohol intoxication, and obesity.
Prone restraint, which inhibits breathing, is particularly hazardous for individuals with obesity and heart conditions. The risks associated with this technique gained heightened awareness following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, who was restrained by police officers for over nine minutes.
Experts indicate a growing understanding of the dangers involved in keeping individuals in a prone and restrained position, especially when additional weight is applied during the arrest.