Frank Tyson’s final words were “I can’t breathe.” The 53-year-old black man, who had recently been released from prison, 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.
Tyson was arrested in a bar on suspicion of a traffic violation and was pinned to the floor and handcuffed by the police officers. Video footage captured the events, showing Tyson screaming for help and stating that he cannot breathe while being held down by officers. Despite efforts to revive him and administer naloxone, a drug used in opioid overdoses, Tyson was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour after his arrest.
The parallels between Tyson’s death and the killing of George Floyd have sparked renewed attention to systemic racism and police brutality in the United States. Recent reports have highlighted the high number of deaths in custody resulting from police actions not intended to be lethal. 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 treatment of Tyson at the hands of the police has raised questions about excessive force and reform within law enforcement agencies. His criminal history does not justify his brutal treatment, but it has brought attention to ongoing issues within our justice system. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation and calls for justice and accountability continue to grow louder as people amplify his final words, “I can’t breathe.”