NEWS / Ohio man’s death certificate indicates homicide while in police custody

The Coroner’s Office of Stark County, Ohio, has ruled that the death of Frank Tyson, a man arrested by Canton city police, was a homicide. This revelation, along with the fact that the death had been directly caused by “cardio pulmonary arrest in association with physical altercation and prone restraint” as well as “ischemic cardio vascular disease and acute intoxication by cocaine and alcohol” was shown on Tyson’s death certificate, as reported by Chief Investigator Harry Campbell to 3News WKYC Studios.

The vital record also listed obesity as a “significant condition” in the man’s death

Police reported that they received a report of a vehicular crash on Friday, April 19, at the 1700 block of Sherrick Road Southeast in Canton Township. Two traffic bureau officers, Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch arrived to investigate, finding that a car had sheared a power pole and that the driver of the car, Frank Tyson, had run to a nearby AMVETS Post.

Shoenegge and Burch then proceeded to follow Tyson to the AMVETS Post where they attempted to arrest him. Body cam footage indicates that Tyson started struggling before one of the officers restrained him by placing his knee on the back of the upper part of Tyson’s body. The video shows Tyson repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe,” as the officers held him in that position.

Shortly after security Tyson in handcuffs, the officers allegedly noticed that Tyson had become unresponsive. Police reportedly tried to perform CPR and administer Narcan, but that did not appear to help, with Tyson being pronounced dead shortly thereafter at a local hospital.

“We are eager to work with the city to resolve this problem and to give real insight into how the city's law enforcement can do better,” Civil Rights Attorney Bobby DiCello, who is representing Tyson’s family, was quoted as stating. "Northeast Ohio needs better law enforcement out of the city of Canton...We remain committed to ensuring that that happens and that justice for Frank Tyson ultimately is achieved.”

DiCello lamented the fact that Canton Police Chief John Gabbard never provided his response on the Tyson case as well as that of Zachary Fornash, a man fatally shot by Canton police in 2023.

While the Canton Police Department have not commented on the incident, the two officers involved were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.