Funeral services took place on Wednesday to honor the life of a 53-year-old man who tragically passed away while in police custody in Ohio last month. Frank Tyson, whose hands were restrained behind his back, was placed on his stomach at a social establishment in Canton.
Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump addressed the attendees at Tyson’s memorial service held at the Hear the Word Ministries church. Tyson tragically passed away on April 18, with police body camera footage capturing him uttering the words “I can’t breathe” repeatedly as he was apprehended by the police and forcefully brought to the ground at the AMVETS club.
During the eulogy, Sharpton expressed his frustration by stating, “What does that say to everyone in here? That you can do this to us.” He highlighted the perception of the audience being seen as expendable. Sharpton made it clear that Frank’s life held great significance to them and they were determined to fight for the sanctity of his life.
Canton police received a report of a car accident involving a vehicle that had crashed into an electric pole near the AMVETS establishment. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Tyson inside the club. A woman, who granted them entry, promptly urged the officers to remove Tyson from the bar. This information was captured on body camera footage obtained by ABC News.
According to attorney Crump, Eric Garner’s plea of “I can’t breathe” was disregarded, and the same happened to George Floyd when he voiced the same words. In an even more disturbing incident, Frank Tyson from Canton, Ohio, was met with a police officer who responded to his plea with the command to “shut the F up.”
The investigation into Tyson’s death will be referred to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office once it is completed, according to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) unit.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office asked BCI on April 18th to look into a tragic incident involving officers from the Canton Police Department. The Attorney General’s Office provided this information to ABC News in a statement.
The Canton Police Department stated that they have no additional comments at this time, as the investigation by BCI is ongoing. However, they did provide a statement on April 24th, coinciding with the release of the body camera footage.
According to a statement provided to ABC News, the crash occurred at the eastern limits of Canton, prompting the dispatch of Canton police officers. Following the incident, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Mr. Tyson, proceeded on foot to the AMVETS establishment situated in Canton Township. Before officers had the opportunity to reach Mr. Tyson, two separate 911 calls were placed from the scene to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center (STARCOM).
The Stark County Ohio Coroner’s Department did not respond to ABC News’ request for a statement on Tyson’s cause of death. Similarly, the local police union did not provide a comment when contacted by ABC News.
According to the Associated Press, Tyson recently regained his freedom after spending 24 years behind bars for charges of kidnapping and theft. It has only been 13 days since his release from prison.
“We had a mere 13 days left before they took his life away, again. It was truly heartbreaking because he had so much potential ahead of him,” expressed Sabrina Jones, Tyson’s partner. “He was determined to shape his own future and had ambitions of pursuing a career. He shared his aspirations with me.”
Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Tyson family, stating, “They will always have my deepest sympathy.” While he refrained from discussing Mr. Tyson’s case due to the ongoing BCI investigation, Mayor Sherer mentioned that he and his team have already engaged with local leaders from the NAACP and the Greater Stark County Urban League. He emphasized his commitment and confidence in the community’s ability to navigate this difficult period together.
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