In a distressing incident from Ohio, America, a struggle to subdue a Black man by police on the ground tragically ended in his death, reviving memories of George Floyd's demise in 2020. The Ohio Police Department released body-cam footage showing the officers' encounter with Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old man, accused of involvement in a vehicle accident on April 18th and subsequently fleeing the scene.
The extensive 36-minute body-cam footage displays a patrolling officer approaching a car that had collided with an electricity pole. A bystander informs the officer that the car's driver was hiding in a nearby inn. Upon entering the inn, the officer finds Frank Tyson standing at the bar. Tyson vehemently protests as an officer attempts to grasp his hand, shouting, 'They are trying to kill me, call the sheriff.'
Officer Pins Down Frank Tyson with a Knee on the Neck
The confrontation escalates as officers bring Tyson to the ground and handcuff him. During the altercation, one officer is visibly pressing down near Tyson's neck with his knee to restrain him. Tyson can be heard repeatedly pleading, 'I can't breathe. I...can't move my neck,' while an officer sternly commands him to calm down, assuring, 'You're okay.' After struggling for a while, Tyson falls motionless. The officers check his condition, audibly questioning, 'Is he breathing? Does he have a pulse?'
Frank Released from Prison After Serving a Long Sentence
The harrowing video shows officers removing Tyson's handcuffs and commencing CPR. Tyson was transported to a local hospital in Cleveland, where doctors pronounced him deceased. According to a Reuters report, Canton Police Department officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Birch were the personnel involved in the Frank Tyson case. After serving a 24-year sentence for kidnapping and theft, Tyson was released from prison on April 6th, a short time before the fateful incident, which stirs the haunting memory of the George Floyd tragedy. Four years earlier, Floyd died in Minneapolis during a police attempt to restrain him in a similar manner.
US Recounts the Painful Memories of George Floyd's Death
In the case of George Floyd, a viral video captured white officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes. Throughout this, Floyd pleaded for his life, expressing 'I can't breathe.' The fallout was significant, sparking a debate on racial policing across America and enormous, sometimes violent, protests in various cities. Eventually, Chauvin and his three fellow officers were convicted of murder and other charges by the court.
