Bail has been set at $25,000 for two Canton officers charged in the death of Frank Tyson

Judge Taryn Heath set bail at $25,000 for the two officers allegedly involved in Frank Tyson’s death.

A grand jury has indicted Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch on charges of reckless homicide, a felony of the third degree.

‘No One Is Above the Law’: Grand Jury Findings on Frank Tyson’s Death Shared

The officers waived the right to appear at the hearing.

Frank Tyson’s attorney, Bobby DiCello, said it was concerning that more than 50 officers were seen during the hearing.

An arraignment has been set for November 8 at 8:30 am.

What happened?

On the night of April 18, Tyson died after being arrested by the two Canton officers.

The interaction between Tyson and police began when officers responded to a car accident.

Officers found a disabled utility pole and a car on the side of the road with an inflated airbag.

Man dies while in Canton police custody after crash

Witnesses told officers that Tyson ran into a bar. Canton police body camera footage showed police going hands-on when Tyson knocked over a chair.

The video showed a struggle as police placed Tyson on the ground, and seconds later an officer placed a knee on Tyson’s back.

Tyson told officers seven times that he couldn’t breathe. Seven minutes passed from the time Tyson was handcuffed to the time officers realized something was wrong.

The officers began performing chest compressions and administering naloxone. Tyson was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

In August, Tyson’s death was ruled a homicide.

Response

During a press conference on Saturday, DiCello said the charges against the officers are a step toward justice.

“We recognize that this is just one step toward justice for Frank and his family during a long and very difficult journey,” DiCello said. “It is incredibly rare to achieve a result like this. It takes strength, courage and a community to stand up for themselves. We will not stop fighting for Frank and his family as we relentlessly pursue justice.”

DiCello was among a group of people who had experienced police brutality, including Tyson’s family members.

“I always thought there would be a victory in this situation; I mean, we prayed about it as a family; people have been praying for us as a family,” said John Tyson, Frank’s brother. “It’s not the win we were looking for, but still, just like the charge was unexpected, and we’re going to take this little win and build on it and just move on to the next phase and phases.”

The community also showed its support during the press conference, calling it a day of celebration.

“Many good people in this community put aside their differences to try to work together to keep his name alive because we don’t want our family members to be next,” Whillamina Jackson said.

On Saturday evening, Canton Mayor William Sherer issued the following statement on the charges against the officers:

“I am aware of and acknowledge the charges filed against Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch by the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office in the case involving the death of Frank Tyson. While I remain committed to transparency in times like these, as this is a pending case, I am limited in the information we can provide at this time.”