Two Canton police officers, Camden Burch and Beau Schoenegge, were each granted a $25,000 bond during a court hearing in Stark County following their indictment on reckless homicide charges connected to the death of Frank Tyson. Tyson, 53, died on April 18 after an altercation with the officers when he entered an AMVETS post in Canton following a car crash. Cleveland19 reported that the family and other officers were present in court Monday, while the officers waived their right to appear.
According to WKYC, Bobby DiCello, representing Tyson's family, urged the judge to remain fair even though over 50 law enforcement officers attended the hearing. "We would ask that the presence of over 50 law enforcement officers gathered here today not influence in any way that decision," DiCello told the judge. The officers are scheduled for arraignment on Friday at 8:30 a.m. and could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
Body camera footage from the incident showed Tyson telling the officers, "I can't breathe," before becoming unresponsive. Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone stressed the importance of justice, stating, "No one is above the law, and no one is so far below it that they don't deserve its protections." This was reported by FOX8, which also mentioned that Tyson's family remains hopeful and seeks to build upon the small win of the indictment.
Tyson's autopsy, according to WKYC, revealed that his death was due to "Cardio Pulmonary Arrest in association with physical altercation and prone restraint," as well as "Ischemic Cardio Vascular Disease and acute intoxication by cocaine and ethanol," with obesity listed as a significant condition. Reverend Al Sharpton, who delivered Tyson's eulogy, was quoted saying, "Frank Tyson’s cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ are ones we have heard far too often when Black men and women die in police custody." DiCello captured the family's sentiment, saying, "Now we know who the bad guy is, and it wasn't Frank," in a statement following the indictment announcement.
