Frank Tyson’s final words were “I can’t breathe.” The 53-year-old black man, who had been released from prison after serving a 24-year sentence for kidnapping and theft, died at the hands of police officers during an arrest in Canton, Ohio. The state prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident, and the two white police officers involved have been relieved of duty.
The police arrested Tyson in a bar on suspicion of a traffic violation and pinned him to the floor while handcuffing him. Video footage shows Tyson screaming for help and stating that he cannot breathe while being pinned down by officers. Despite efforts to revive Tyson and administer naloxone, a drug used in opioid overdoses, he was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour after his arrest.
Tyson’s final words have sparked comparisons with George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Both men were black and suffered from breathing difficulties while being detained by law enforcement. Tyson had recently crashed his car before being found in the bar by police, who were asked by the waiter to remove him quickly.
The parallels between Tyson’s death and Floyd’s killing have highlighted ongoing issues of police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. Recent reports have also highlighted the high number of deaths in custody resulting from police actions not intended to be lethal. These incidents have raised questions about excessive force and the need for reform within law enforcement agencies.
Despite his criminal history, Tyson’s treatment at the hands of the police has raised concerns about racial bias and discrimination within law enforcement agencies. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation, but calls for justice and accountability have been amplified by his final words, “I can’t breathe.”