CANTON, Ohio — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the death of Frank Tyson, the 53-year-old East Canton man who died last month while in the custody of the Canton Police Department.
In a letter to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke dated May 1, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said the organization was asking the DOJ to conduct "a thorough investigation immediately."
"Without federal intervention, the police officers may not be held accountable for their actions," Johnston stated. "We seek justice and accountability."
The encounter involving Tyson and Canton police occurred on April 18 when two officers responded to an AMVETS Post on Sherrick Road Southeast. Police say Tyson ran there after crashing his car near the eastern limits of the city of Canton. Body camera video released on April 25 shows officers struggling to arrest Tyson before one of the officers restrains him by placing his knee on the back of Tyson's upper body. Tyson is heard on the video repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe."
Canton police identified the officers involved as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch of the department's traffic bureau. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy, with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation currently conducting an inquiry into the case.
"The NAACP is deeply troubled by this horrific tragedy," Johnson wrote to Clarke. "Despite Mr. Tyson repeatedly yelling that he could not breathe, the officer kept his knee on Mr. Tyson’s back. The other officers held him down as well. Similar to the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, the police ignored Mr. Tyson’s pleas. Moreover, Mr. Tyson was unconscious for several minutes before the police finally checked his pulse and administered CPR. The callous disregard to Mr. Tyson’s pleas underscores the need for an urgent investigation."
You can read the entire letter from the NAACP to the Justice Department below.
The family of Frank Tyson held a press conference Thursday alongside attorneys Ben Crump and Bobby DiCello to call for justice.
"You all know George Floyd," DiCello said during the press conference. "I am shocked to tell you that this is George Floyd 2.0. This is George Floyd revisited."
DiCello's remarks came as he addressed the moments in which Tyson had told police he couldn't breathe.
“When a man tells you he can’t breathe, you’re never allowed to say, ‘Shut the f up.’ That’s why we’re here," DiCello said. "It appears that the city of Canton keeps law enforcement officers in its ranks that do not understand this. This simple act of human dignity that could’ve been offered to Frank was denied on the day he died. Just the simple dignity of being helped, just some basic help."
Crump also drew comparisons to Floyd's case.
“Eric Garner said, 'I can’t breathe.' George Floyd said, 'I can’t breathe.' Frank Tyson said, 'I can’t breathe.' How many more Black men in America have to tell police officers 'I can’t breathe' before police actually believe these Black men fighting for their last breaths on this earth? The reason we have to get justice for Frank Tyson is because there's been far too many Black men and Black women saying I can’t breathe. This can happen to your daughter. It can happen to your son. That’s why we have to get justice for Frank Tyson.”
Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to give the eulogy during funeral services next week for Tyson.
3News' Ryan Haidet, Tyler Carey, and Justin McMullen contributed to this report.
Previous Reporting:
- 'George Floyd 2.0': Family of Frank Tyson, attorney Ben Crump speak out after body camera video released of his death in Canton police custody
- What the personnel files show of the 2 Canton officers involved in fatal encounter with Frank Tyson
- Rev. Al Sharpton expected to give eulogy for Frank E. Tyson: Bodycam video shows man saying 'I can't breathe' before death in Canton police custody
- Bodycam video shows Frank E. Tyson telling Canton officers 'I can't breathe' moments before death in police custody
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