CANTON, Ohio — Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to give the eulogy during funeral services next week for 53-year-old Frank E. Tyson, the man who died last month while in custody of Canton police seen in body camera video telling officers "I can't breathe" moments before his death.
“The family has asked Reverend Al to come and give the eulogy," said attorney Ben Crump.
The funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, at Hear the Word Ministries in Canton.
“Frank Tyson’s cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ are ones we have heard far too often when Black men and women die in police custody,” said Rev. Sharpton. “Once again, we have seen footage of those pleas for help not only ignored but dismissed by officers using excessive force – who then left him to lie unconscious for several minutes. I have answered the family’s call to deliver Frank’s eulogy and remain committed to delivering justice for them.”
Both Crump and DiCello joined members of Tyson's family last Thursday for a press conference in which they called for justice in his death.
“When a man tells you he can’t breathe, you’re never allowed to say, ‘Shut the f up.’ That’s why we’re here," DiCello said during the press conference. "It appears that the city of Canton keeps law enforcement officers in its ranks that do not understand this. This simple act of human dignity that could’ve been offered to Frank was denied on the day he died. Just the simple dignity of being helped, just some basic help."
The situation dates back to April 18 when Canton officers responded to the AMVETS on Sherrick Road Southeast. Police say Tyson was there after crashing his car nearby.
Last Wednesday, the Canton Police Department released body camera footage showing of Tyson's death. 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.
Tyson had been out of prison for 13 days at the time of his death after serving 24 years. As 3News previously reported, that sentence was for kidnapping, burglary, grand theft of a vehicle, receiving stolen property and failing to comply with a police officer, related to his actions taken on or around July 20, 2000, according to his indictment that was filed eight days after that date.
His attorneys claim it was a wrongful conviction.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE CASE...
- 'George Floyd 2.0': Family of Frank E. Tyson, attorney Ben Crump speak out after body camera video released of his death in Canton police custody
- Canton police in-custody death: Community gathers at Mt. Olive Baptist Church for town hall
- Bodycam video shows Frank E. Tyson telling Canton officers 'I can't breathe' moments before death in police custody
- What we know about Frank Tyson following his death while in custody of Canton police
- A look at Canton Police Department use of force, arrest policies
- Canton police: Suspect who fled from crash dies while in custody; BCI investigating as officials wait on bodycam video