Bond set at $25,000 for Canton police officers charged in Tyson's death

(This story has been updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy.)

CANTON – Dozens of law enforcement officers packed a courtroom for Monday’s bond hearing before the ttwo Canton police officers charged with reckless homicide in connection with the death of Frank Tyson.

Both Beau Schoenegge, 25, and Camden Burch, 24, were released from the Stark County Jail in the afternoon after $25,000 bonds were posted on their behalf.

Both officers waived their right to appear in court on Monday. They were represented by lawyers. Eugene O’Byrne represented Burch, and Ty Graham represents Schoenegge.

Family lawyer reports heavy police presence

Cleveland attorney Bobby DiCello, who represents the Tyson family, spoke during the hearing before Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer.

He said the family wanted the judge to be fair and recommended no bond conditions. He was referring to the large number of Canton police officers who attended the hearing, including some who watched via video in an overflow room.

“We would ask that the presence of more than 50 law enforcement officers gathered here today does not influence that decision in any way,” he said. “In my years as a prosecutor and in my years in court, I have never seen what I saw today. It’s concerning that presence, the concept of presence, is being used in this way, while taxpayers are paying for these officers to be here.”

After the hearing, DiCello entertained the possibility that the officers were off-duty when they attended Monday’s hearing.

DiCello said he had never seen officers “show up in large numbers to support a suspect.” He said their presence was a “clear attempt” to put pressure on the judge to make a lenient decision during the hearing.

Attorney Graham said the $25,000 bond was standard for similar cases in Stark County Common Pleas Court.

“Law enforcement here in the city of Canton has shown loyalty to its department, and not to the citizens of the city of Canton,” DiCello said. “That’s our concern.”

He said the Tyson family was comforted by the process that has unfolded so far.

“This is certainly a historic moment,” DiCello said. “It’s gotten the country looking at Canton, and they’re watching.”

It is not known whether the officers were paid

At the time of the hearing, it was not immediately known whether the officers were paid. A department spokesperson was asked about their service status Monday afternoon.

Those in attendance included employed Police Chief John Gabbard.

According to the public prosecutor, the officers are presumed innocent

After Monday’s hearing, Stone held an impromptu news conference at the entrance to the courthouse.

“It’s a difficult thing,” he said.

He said the accused officers are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

He said he wasn’t concerned about the number of officers watching in the courtroom.

‘It’ll be fair. The judge is a fair judge. And they support their fellow officers,” Stone said.

Judge issues decorum order

Farmer took the unusual step of issuing a decorum order to maintain the security of the courthouse during all proceedings. It requires, among other things, that all spectators remain seated. They must have permission from a deputy sheriff to leave and cannot return until the next hearing. The sheriff’s office may use its sole discretion to determine whether an individual may enter the courthouse after being screened. All spectators must be seated 10 minutes before each session.

The judge asked anyone who could not comply with the decorum order to leave the courtroom. Nobody did it.

What happened to Frank Tyson?

Tyson, a black resident of Canton Township, died April 18 after a battle with police at the AMVETS building on Sherrick Road SE. He had entered the club after crashing a vehicle into a nearby utility pole, prompting those in attendance to call police to have Tyson removed.

A struggle ensued. Tyson was handcuffed and left face down on the ground for nearly eight minutes before an officer realized he had no pulse.

Body camera footage shows the officers taking Tyson to the ground as he screamed that police officers were trying to kill him.

One officer placed his knee on Tyson’s upper back and neck for about a minute while another officer handcuffed him. Tyson said “I can’t breathe” several times.

“You’re doing fine,” one of the officers replied, his hand around Tyson’s handcuffed wrist. “Shut the (expletive).”

Less than a minute after putting on the handcuffs, he fell silent.

Autopsy: Sensitive restraint contributes to death

A preliminary autopsy report released in August ruled that the manner in which Tyson died was homicide and that the cause of his death was a combination of acute intoxication by cocaine and alcohol, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrest, meaning his breathing and blood circulation stopped, in combination with physical altercation and sensitive restraint.

DiCello said he wants to work with the city to examine and improve their policies, such as restraint.

“There are two ways that can happen,” he said. “We can have a voluntary dialogue or we can seek help from the courts.”

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR