The aftermath of tragic incidents often brings with them a procession of judicial proceedings, and the case of D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death outside a Milwaukee hotel is continuing its course towards resolution with the latest guilty plea from a former hotel security guard. Todd Erickson, 59, admitted to playing a part in the death of Mitchell during an altercation at the downtown Hyatt Regency on June 30, 2024, a scene which has been compared to the death of George Floyd.
According to JSOnline, Erickson pleaded guilty to felony murder yesterday, a decision that came to fore just before jury selection was set to begin for his August 11 trial. In the wake of the plea, Erickson, who is white, now potentially faces up to 15 years in prison, with the sentencing slated for September 3. It concludes a sequence of plea deals involving four hotel staff members originally charged in relation to Mitchell's death.
Mitchell’s confrontation and subsequent death was the result of a physical struggle with the hotel's security staff, as noted by Spectrum News 1. After running into the hotel's lobby and into a women's bathroom, Mitchell was forcibly removed by security guards and others who then pinned him on the ground for eight to nine minutes. By the time responders arrived, Mitchell had ceased breathing.
This incident drew immediate comparisons to the death of Floyd, particularly in light of the fact that Mitchell, like Floyd, was African American. While investigation indicated that Mitchell was strong and sought to fight back – allegedly attempting to bite Erickson – those involved maintained that their objective was not to cause harm. Despite their pleas, the tragic outcome has left another community grappling with a death under the weight of security’s hands. The hotel management company, Ambridge Hospitality, terminated the employment of the four staff members involved in July 2024. "Mitchell tried to lock them in the bathroom," Fox6 News reported, reflecting the assertions of two women present during the onset of the incident.
While Erickson was the latest to enter a guilty plea, his colleagues had made their pleas earlier in the proceedings. Brandon Turner, another security guard, pleaded to felony murder in March, and both Herbert Williamson, a bellhop, and front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor battery charges in the same month. These men, along with Erickson, are scheduled for sentencing on September 3, as a chapter in Milwaukee's history is inching closer to its closure.
