Ohio police have released video of a Black man who died at a local hospital after repeatedly telling officers “I can't breathe” as they pinned him to the floor of a bar and handcuffed him, evoking memories of the 2020 murder of George Floyd .
In body camera video released Thursday by the Canton Police Department, officers are seen arresting the man, identified as Frank Tyson53, who was suspected of leaving the scene of a single-car accident on April 18.
The Canton Police Department was not immediately available to comment on the video, which was posted online by several local media outlets, or to confirm details about the incident.
The 36-minute clip begins with a patrol officer finding a car that had crashed into an electrical pole and a passerby telling him that the vehicle's driver had fled to a nearby tavern.
The police are then seen entering the establishment, where they find Tyson at the bar. An argument ensued when they tried to grab his arms and he repeatedly shouted “they're trying to kill me” and “call the sheriff.”
The police fought with Tyson on the ground and handcuffed him. One of them is seen placing a knee on his back, close to his neck, for about 30 seconds.
Tyson can be heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe. I can’t… get off my neck,” as an officer shouts “calm down” and “you’re okay” before standing up.
Then the video shows Tyson motionless, lying face down on the floor for about six minutes, while the police talked to the bar's customers.
The police then check Tyson, which doesn't seem to be responding. They can be heard saying: “Is he breathing?” and “Does he have a pulse?”
Eight minutes after the police handcuffed Tyson, they removed the handcuffs and began resuscitation. Paramedics then arrive at the scene and take Tyson out of the bar on a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance, as shown in the video.
Tyson died at a local hospital, according to WKYC, an NBC affiliate in Cleveland. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The official cause of death has not yet been determined.
The incident is reminiscent of Floyd's deadly encounter with Minneapolis police four years ago. A cellphone video of Floyd's murder that went viral sparked a wave of protests around the world against police brutality and racism.
It shows a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, who was black, begs for his life, repeating “I can't breathe” before falling silent.
Chauvin and three of his law enforcement peers were eventually convicted of manslaughter and other crimes.
The Canton Police Department officers involved in the incident with Tyson were identified as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch, WKYC reported.
Both have been placed on administrative leave and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (OCI) is investigating the incident, the station reported.
Calls to OCI were not immediately returned.
Source: CNN Brasil
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