Last week, a man from Ohio was handcuffed and left face down on the floor of a social club, resulting in his death in police custody. The officers involved in the incident are currently under investigation. The police body camera footage released on Wednesday shows a police officer from Cant responding to a report of a traffic accident and encountering Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old resident of eastern Canton, in a bar near a club called American Veterans (AMVETS).
According to the footage, after a witness directed police to the bar where Tyson was located, a woman opened the door and urgently asked the officers to remove him. The police then proceeded to handcuff Tyson, who resisted and vocalized concerns about his safety. Despite his pleas, they pinned him down on the ground with a knee in his back, and he told them he couldn’t breathe.
The officers ignored Tyson’s distress and reassured him that he was fine, even making jokes with passersby. It wasn’t until they realized Tyson was in a medical crisis that they attempted to provide assistance. Unfortunately, Tyson was pronounced dead at a hospital less than an hour later.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding Tyson’s death and whether the officers will face charges related to the incident. The Mayor of Canton expressed condolences to Tyson’s family and emphasized the importance of transparency in the community during this difficult time.
The use of face-down restraints has been a controversial issue in law enforcement for many years, as it can lead to positional asphyxiation and endanger the lives of suspects. Proper care and handling are essential in ensuring the safety of individuals in police custody.
In recent years, there have been calls for reforms that would ban or limit face-down restraints altogether due to their potential lethality. Some experts argue that other methods such as prone restraints or verbal de-escalation should be used instead.
Tyson’s death highlights the need for continued scrutiny of law enforcement practices and policies related to use-of-force incidents. As we continue to grapple with issues related to race bias and police brutality, it is important that we hold ourselves accountable for our actions and strive towards creating safer communities for all individuals.
Overall, this incident serves as an unfortunate reminder of how quickly things can escalate during interactions between law enforcement officials and citizens. It is crucial that we continue to push for more transparency
