Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old black man, died in police custody in Canton, Ohio, after being arrested on suspicion of a traffic violation. The two white police officers involved were relieved of duty following the incident. The state prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyson’s death.
The police arrived at the bar where Tyson was found and pinned him to the floor before handcuffing him. Video footage captured by the officers’ body cameras showed Tyson screaming for help and stating that he could not breathe while being held down by the police. Despite efforts to revive him and administer naloxone, a drug used to treat opioid overdoses, Tyson was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour after his arrest.
Tyson’s final words echoed those of George Floyd who died in Minneapolis in May 2020 while being held down by police officers. This has sparked comparisons and renewed attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Recent reports have highlighted the high number of deaths in custody resulting from police actions not intended to be lethal, raising questions about excessive force and systemic racism within law enforcement agencies.
Tyson had recently been released from prison after serving a 24-year sentence for kidnapping and theft. Despite his criminal history, his treatment at the hands of the police has raised concerns about reform within law enforcement agencies and calls for justice and accountability have been amplified by his final words, “I can’t breathe.”
