The release of body-camera footage by the Ohio Police Department depicting the arrest of Frank Tyson has sparked outrage and drawn parallels to the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020. The video shows officers detaining Tyson, a 53-year-old Black man suspected of leaving the scene of a car accident on April 18. As officers confront Tyson inside a tavern where he was found, he can be heard expressing distress, saying, "they are trying to kill me" and urging someone to "call the sheriff."
In the video, officers can be seen wrestling Tyson to the ground and handcuffing him, with one officer placing a knee on his back near his neck. Tyson's pleas of "I can't breathe" echo eerily similar sentiments expressed by George Floyd during his fatal encounter with police. Despite Tyson's cries for help, officers can be heard instructing him to "calm down" and assuring him that he's "fine."
Tragically, Tyson becomes motionless during the struggle, prompting officers to check his condition and administer CPR. Despite their efforts, Tyson succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital in Cleveland. The officers involved in the incident, identified as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch of the Canton Police Department, are now under scrutiny as investigations into Tyson's death unfold.
Tyson's death comes just weeks after his release from prison, where he served 24 years on a kidnapping and theft conviction. His abrupt return to custody, this time in a fatal encounter with law enforcement, underscores the systemic issues facing Black individuals within the criminal justice system. The circumstances surrounding Tyson's death, coupled with his pleas for mercy and echoes of George Floyd's final moments, serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in cases of police brutality.
The incident has reignited national conversations about police reform and racial justice, drawing comparisons to the high-profile trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd's death. As communities demand accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies, Tyson's tragic passing serves as yet another sobering reminder of the urgent need for meaningful change to prevent future instances of police violence and ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect under the law.
