Two Ohio cops indicted in death of Black man who cried, 'I can't breathe'

3/11/2024 5:55

        Two Ohio police officers were indicted
        by a grand jury in the death of a Black man whom officers
        restrained with a knee near his neck while he cried "I can't
        breathe," the county prosecutor announced on Saturday, in a case
        that evoked memories of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
        
        The grand jury indicted officers Beau Schoenegge, 24, and
        Camden Burch, 24, of the Canton Police Department, on Friday on
        charges of reckless homicide in the death of Frank Tyson, 53,
        who was restrained after being suspected of leaving the scene of
        a single-car accident on April 18, Kyle Stone, the prosecuting
        attorney for Stark County, Ohio, said.
        
        "No one is above the law," Stone said at a press conference.
        "And no one is so far below it that they don't deserve its
        protections."
        
        It was unclear if either officer was represented by an
        attorney. The Canton Police Department did not immediately
        respond to inquiries from Reuters on Saturday.
        
        In body camera footage released by the Canton Police earlier
        this year, the officers are seen apprehending Tyson, of Canton
        Township, and holding him down in a nearby tavern where he was
        suspected as having fled after his car hit a utility pole.
        
        After officers wrestled Tyson to the ground and handcuffed
        him, one is seen in the footage placing a knee on Tyson's back
        near his neck for about 30 seconds.
        
        Tyson can be heard repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe. I
        can't ... Get off my neck," as an officer yells, "Calm down" and
        "You're fine," before standing up.
        
        The video then showed Tyson lying motionless, face down for
        about 8 minutes before officers checked his pulse, removed the
        handcuffs and began CPR. Tyson was pronounced dead at a local
        hospital.
        
        The incident is reminiscent of Floyd's deadly encounter with
        Minneapolis police four years ago. A cellphone video of Floyd's
        killing, which went viral, unleashed a wave of protests
        worldwide against police brutality and racism.
        
        It shows a white officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd's
        neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, who was Black, begs
        for his life, repeating "I can't breathe" before falling silent.
        
        Chauvin and three fellow officers were convicted of
        manslaughter and other crimes.
        
        During Saturday's press conference, Tyson's family's
        attorney, Bobby DiCello, called the indictments a step toward
        justice.
        
        "We acknowledge that this is just one step to achieving
        justice for Frank and his family in what has been a long and
        very difficult journey," DiCello said. "It is incredibly rare to
        achieve an outcome like this."
        
        The charges, a third degree felony, carry a potential
        sentence of 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
        
        Both Schoenegge and Burch were placed on administrative
        duties after the incident. They remained in custody on Saturday,
        and a bond hearing was scheduled for Monday morning.