Two Ohio officers charged with negligent homicide in death of black man who pleaded ‘I can’t breathe’

Two Ohio police officers have been charged with negligent homicide the death of the black man who pleaded, “I can’t breathe” during a confrontation with police, authorities said Saturday.

Camden Canton officers Burch and Bo Schenigge have been charged with negligent homicide in the death of Frank E. Tyson during a standoff with police on April 18, Stark County District Attorney Kyle L. Stone said at a news conference Saturday.

Burch, 24, and Shenegge were arrested Friday and remained in custody Saturday, NBC reported. Cleveland’s WKYC reports with reference to the given records of prisoners.

Stone said he presented to the grand jury the results of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s investigation into Tyson’s death, which the agency concluded in August. A grand jury approved the charges as part of an indictment.

The charge of negligent homicide, a third-degree felony, could carry up to 3 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each defendant if convicted, Stone said.

State and local police officials did not immediately respond to attempts to reach the officers or their attorneys for comment.

In a statement to Cantonese RepositoryCraig M. Riley, president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police’s Gold Division Labor Council, accused prosecutors of playing politics with the case just days after Tuesday’s election.

“Real progress,” he said, “comes from collaboration, investment and open communication, not from using our officers as timely scapegoats to score political points.”

The union represents Canton police chiefs, according to the Repository.

Canton Police Department published footage of the collision from Shenegge’s body camera in a week Officers responded to a vehicle crash with a downed utility pole and were directed by a witness down the road to the AMVETS shelter, where they made contact with Tyson, police said.

According to the video, Tyson overturns a bar stool, yells for the sheriff and says, “They’re trying to kill me,” as officers try to take him into custody. He is lowered to the ground and handcuffed, then one officer appears to place a knee on Tyson’s upper body for about 30 seconds.

Tyson says “I can’t breathe” several times.

The officer tells him to cooperate and calm down. Tyson says again, “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” before adding: “You’re on my neck.”

According to the video, after the officer lifts his knee, Tyson remains unassisted and appears motionless for approximately 5 minutes. The officer asks if Tyson is calm and breathing, then checks his pulse and officers perform chest compressions.

Police said Tyson was taken to a hospital where he died.

The preliminary autopsy report lists causes of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to physical altercation and restraint, as well as acute cocaine and ethanol poisoning.

Schoenegge and Burch, who both joined the department in 2022 and are assigned to the traffic bureau, have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

Death echoed in the killing of George Floyd Minneapolis police in the spring of 2020, when an officer kneed Floyd’s neck as he repeated: – I can’t breathe.

until Eric Garner On July 17, 2014, he died after a fight with New York City police officers who stopped him to investigate possible street sales of loose, tax-free cigarettes. He also pleaded, “I can’t breathe,” as the officer held him in a choke hold.

Bobby DiCello, an attorney for Tyson’s family, said at a news conference after Stone addressed the media that the charges marked progress toward justice.

“The Stark County District Attorney acted courageously in bringing charges before a grand jury,” he said. “This is how justice works – through acts of courage.”

John Tyson, the victim’s brother, described the day’s news as a gradual step forward.

“It’s not the win we were expecting, but we’ll take this small win and build on it,” he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com