CANTON, Ohio — The Canton Police Department publicly released body camera footage showing moments leading to a man dying while in police custody.
In the evening hours of April 18, two officers responded to a crash on Sherrick Road Southeast. The body camera footage shows a sheared power pole in the roadway. The vehicle was found in a driveway nearby with no one inside.
A witness in another vehicle drove up to the officers and told them that the driver left the area and ran into a building down the street.
The officers walked into the bar in a nearby American Veterans, or AMVETS, post found 53-year-old Frank Tyson standing by the counter. A patron is heard telling the officers as they were walking in, “Please get him out of here now.”
The officers walked toward Tyson, who is heard on the body camera footage telling them to get the sheriff. Tyson is seen knocking over a barstool and that’s when the officers attempted to restrain him.
A struggle between Tyson and the officers began. Tyson is heard saying in the video “They’re trying to kill me” and “Call the sheriff” multiple times. The patrons are also heard telling him that the officers are trying to help him.
The officers and a bar patron wrestled Tyson to the ground a minute after the struggle started. He continued to shout “Call the sheriff” as the officers restrained him face down on the floor. One of the officers is heard telling Tyson that he is going to get sprayed, but the other officer advises him to not do it.
Full Bodycam video from Canton Police
**Viewer Discretion Advised**
This video contains graphic content and shows a man’s death while in police custody. It is provided for transparency to the public and community we serve. Viewer discretion is strongly advised, as the footage may be disturbing and is not suitable for all audiences. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by this tragic event. Please consider carefully whether you want to proceed with viewing this video in the player below.
An officer is seen placing handcuffs on Tyson while the other places his knee on Tyson’s upper back and neck area for 30 seconds to restrain him. Tyson tells the officer to get off and “I can’t breathe” and the officer tells him to “Calm down” and “You’re fine.”
Approximately 90 seconds after the officer removed his knee, Tyson’s foot is seen twitching. The officer tells Tyson to “stop fighting” and shortly afterward, Tyson’s foot stops moving.
Body camera video shows Tyson face down on the floor motionless for more than five minutes as the officers spoke with other patrons inside the bar.
A patron is heard saying something about a “good tussle” and laughing. The officer responds, “I’ve always wanted to be in a bar fight. I don’t know if this counts.”
Following that conversation, one officer returns and asks if Tyson calmed down. Another officer responds by saying, “Yeah, he might be out.”
Bodycam video shows the first officer kneeling down and checking Tyson’s pulse. He then walks away without saying a word.
From the time the officer removed his knee from Tyson’s body to the time his pulse was checked, five minutes and 34 seconds had passed.
The other officer orders Tyson to stand, but he does not appear to move or respond. The officer attempts to move Tyson to the side and shakes him and slaps him to get a response. He then asks a bystander to close the door behind Tyson.
The officer turns Tyson to his side and continues to shake him. He removes the handcuffs from Tyson.
One of the officers asks if Tyson had a pulse and the other responds by saying he didn’t feel one. The officers begin chest compressions. A release from Canton police stated Tyson was administered multiple doses of Narcan.
Ten minutes later, medics from the Canton Fire Department arrive and take over attempts to revive Tyson. The body camera footage shows paramedics putting Tyson on a gurney and moving to the ambulance.
The Canton Police Department identified the officers involved as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch. Both of them were placed on paid administrative leave as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation looked into the case.
The Stark County Coroner’s Office completed Tyson’s autopsy, but it will be up to the prosecutor’s office to decide when to release it since he died in police custody.
Canton Mayor William Sherer II released a statement after the body camera video was made public.
"Today we have released the bodycam footage of the arrest incident involving the death of Mr. Frank E. Tyson. I sat down with members of the Tyson family to not only allow them to see what is now being released to the public, but to give them my condolences in person. As we make it through this challenging time, my goal is to be as transparent with this community as possible.
"This investigation is in the hands of BCI, and we will continue to provide them with all the required information they need to do their work."
Tyson was released from state prison on April 6 after serving 24 years on a kidnapping and theft case and was almost immediately declared a post-release control supervision violator for failing to report to a parole officer, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.