Two Canton officers are charged in connection with the death of Frank Tyson

Tyson’s family members and other Canton police officers were in the courtroom for Monday’s hearing.

Schoenegge and Burch were charged with involuntary manslaughter and have been in the Stark County Jail since November 1st.

Tyson family attorney Bobby DiCello said at Monday’s hearing that he would leave the bail decision to the court but asked that the presence of more than 50 officers in the court not influence their decision.

If convicted of a felony, officers face up to 36 months in prison, a $10,000 fine and loss of their job.

Tyson, 53, died in police custody on April 18 after fleeing a traffic accident in Canton.

According to the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Tyson came across a nearby AMVETS club in the 1700 block of Sherrick Road SE and asked someone to call the sheriff.

Instead, Canton police were called to the scene and when they arrived there was a fight in the club.

After he was taken to the ground and handcuffed while lying on his stomach, Tyson told officers he couldn’t breathe.

According to his family, Tyson can be heard on the police body camera telling officers that he can’t breathe at least seven times in a minute.

A cantonal police officer had his knee on his back at the time.

Tyson was taken to a local hospital, where he died, still in handcuffs.

The Stark County Coroner’s Office classified Tyson’s death as a homicide, with causes including acute cocaine and alcohol intoxication and cardiopulmonary arrest.

In a press release, the attorney for Tyson’s family expressed their reaction to the decision to charge Schoenegge and Burch, saying they “take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief.”

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