Harrowing Video Shows A Black Man’s Last Words As Police Knelt On Him

Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old Black man, died in police custody in Canton, Ohio, after an officer knelt on his back, causing him to become unresponsive, graphic body camera footage released by the city shows.

On April 18, Canton police responded to an accident after Tyson allegedly sheared an electrical pole off the side of the road and then ran, according to the department. Footage shows Tyson’s unoccupied car in a grassy area nearby with the driver’s-side door left open and the steering wheel airbag deployed.

Canton police, who arrived at the scene just a little before 8:30 p.m., were told Tyson had fled to a veterans club. They walked in and confronted Tyson.

In the body cam footage, as the officers approach, Tyson yells, “They are trying to kill me!” He pulls away and a scuffle ensues. Someone can be heard in the background saying, “They are trying to help you.”

The officers grab Tyson, who can be heard telling them to “get the sheriff,” and force him to the ground. Tyson continues shouting, saying the officers are trying to kill him. One officer can be heard threatening to pepper spray Tyson while they attempt to handcuff him, but another officer tells him not to.

A little over a minute into the struggle, an officer presses his knee into Tyson’s back while another handcuffs him. Tyson tells the officer to get off of him, but another officer tells him to calm down.

“I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” Tyson says repeatedly.

Police finish handcuffing Tyson, who again tells them that he “can’t breathe,” while lying face-down on the floor.

“You’re fine. Shut the fuck up,” one officer can be heard saying in response.

Tyson appears to become unresponsive.

Roughly six minutes pass before an officer checks to see if he