CANTON, Ohio — The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has confirmed to 3News that it has completed its probe into the death of Frank E. Tyson at the hands of Canton Police Department officers in April.
BCI officials tell 3News that the case was referred to the Stark County Prosecutor's Office for review on Aug. 30.
The encounter between Tyson and police occurred on April 18 when two officers responded to an AMVETS Post on Sherrick Road Southeast. Canton police officials say Tyson ran there after crashing his car near the eastern limits of the city. Officers observed a power pole in the roadway that had been sheared in the wreck and found the vehicle nearby before being directed to the AMVETS, where Tyson was located.
In a release from April 19, police stated that Tyson struggled with the officers before they secured him, and that the officers noticed he was unresponsive "shortly after securing him in handcuffs." After performing CPR and administering multiple doses of Narcan, Tyson was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
Five days later, Canton police released body camera footage showing the death of the 53-year-old Tyson while he was in police custody. The video included Tyson's last words "I can't breathe." In all, the 35-minute, 46-second video shows officers arriving to the scene, confronting Tyson, and attempting to take him into custody. After his last words, it also shows a period of five-plus minutes where he laid motionless on the floor before police checked for a pulse.
Canton police identified the officers involved as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch of the department's traffic bureau. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
In August, while the BCI continued their investigation into the incident, the Stark County Coroner's Office ruled that the death of Tyson was a homicide.
Chief Investigator Harry Campbell said the autopsy showed two causes of death:
- Cardio Pulmonary Arrest in association with physical altercation and prone restraint.
- Ischemic Cardio Vascular Disease and acute intoxication by cocaine and ethanol.
The autopsy also listed obesity as a "significant condition" in Tyson's death.
Previous Reporting:
- Frank Tyson's death while in Canton police custody ruled homicide by Stark County Coroner's Office
- Rev. Al Sharpton gives eulogy at funeral for Frank E. Tyson, man who died in Canton police custody
- Bodycam video shows Frank E. Tyson telling Canton officers 'I can't breathe' moments before death in police custody
- Canton police: Suspect who fled from crash dies while in custody; BCI investigating as officials wait on bodycam video