Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges
D’Vontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old man, passed away in June after being restrained by security personnel outside a Hyatt Regency hotel in Milwaukee. An autopsy report published on Friday by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the official cause of his death. Mitchell’s official homicide was due to “restraint asphyxia along with the toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine.”
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges Initial homicide Report
The report indicates that the manner of death is classified as homicide execution case. In response to CNN’s inquiry about whether the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office intends to pursue or file charges related to the incident. The Milwaukee office stated, “Currently, we have no comment on what to say .”
Mitchell passed away on June 30 after being restrained by hotel security personnel during an incident that was partly recorded on video. Following the occurrence, several hotel employees were let go. The Milwaukee police previously informed CNN that four felony execution charges have been filed in relation to Mitchell’s death. The investigation into the homicide remains active.
A 43-year-old man was subdued by four individuals after exhibiting aggressive behavior in a hotel lobby, according to a report from the medical examiner’s office. While waiting for the police to arrive, he allegedly became unresponsive. The man was found to have drug paraphernalia on him after his execution. He was then taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Police Brutality Crisis
The situation developed amidst ongoing scrutiny of the use of violent force. Especially against people of color, by police and authority figures. This comes almost four years after widespread protests erupted across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, representing the Mitchell family, declared in a statement that the results from the medical examiner’s report call for immediate legal action against the officers involved.
Mitchell’s mother thinks he was experiencing a mental health crisis. Video footage also from a cell phone supports the testimonies of witnesses. Witnesses claimed that “three to four security guards had their knees on Mitchell’s neck and back”. This all occurred “while one of them struck him in the head with an object., leading to his execution.
Mitchell was experiencing a mental health crisis. Further, rather than fulfilling their responsibility to protect and serve, the security personnel and other staff at Hyatt applied unnecessary force that led to injuries resulting in his death. We are determined to pursue justice for Mitchell and his grieving family.*
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges What happened
The medical examiner’s investigation report stated that Mitchell entered the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel looking agitated and out of breath.
According to the report, staff and hotel guests observed him concealing himself behind different objects in the lobby. He attempted to seek shelter in the concession area but was instructed to leave by hotel personnel.*
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges Mitchell “entered the women’s restroom and tried to lock himself in with the other women present,” according to the report. “Upon hearing the women scream, two hotel security staff rushed in to intervene and pulled Dvontaye out.”
He allegedly resisted and attempted to reach into their pockets. Security personnel had difficulty restraining him and had to physically drag him out of the hotel through the front entrance.”
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges Todd Alan Erickson, former security manager
Murder of Milwaukee Man. Leads to Four Felony Charges Erickson, who is 60 years old, served as the security manager on duty. At the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee at the time of Mitchell’s death.
He surrendered on August 7 and appeared in court the following day, according to court records. As of Monday, he was still in jail on a $50,000 bond, as per the records.
Erickson informed Milwaukee detectives that he had been employed. As a security officer at the Hyatt since April 2018. Until his recent termination. This was also detailed in a criminal complaint from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, filed on August 6.
Murder of Milwaukee Man. Leads to Four Felony Charges His responsibilities included. Monitoring surveillance cameras and patrolling the hotel grounds. He told the detectives, according to the complaint.
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges Neither he nor the other security staff at the hotel were licensed or certified. However, the Hyatt did provide CPR training, the complaint noted.
Erickson mentioned to authorities that he carried a collapsible baton. He stated that the Hyatt did not supply safety equipment to its employees. Also the complaint states he; “assumed his immediate supervisors were aware of his baton and had consented to him carrying it,”.
Murder of Milwaukee Man Leads to Four Felony Charges The execution has left a family missing a loved one and has once again opened up the discussion of excessive force.
Written By Mariah Brandon
Sources:
CNN – What we know about D’Vontaye Mitchell, a Black man who died after being pinned to the ground in Milwaukee, by Alisha Ebrahimji
NPR – D’Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down by hotel security. Here’s what we know, by Bill Chappell, Johnathan Franklin
FOX News – D’Vontaye Mitchell death; hotel settles, 4 accused headed to trial, by Bria Jones
First Inset image courtesy of Patxi Moraleda – Creative commons
Featured Image Courtesy Anthony Agor – Creative commons
second Inset image courtesy of Kristy Dactyl – Creative commons
