The family of Dvontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old Black man who died after being pinned down by security guards, recently announced they would be looking into launching a criminal investigation.
With the help of civil rights activist and lawyer Ben Crump, the family is aiming to get Milwaukee police to conduct an investigation. Per CNN, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the preliminary manner of death is homicide, but a toxicology report is pending and the final manner is yet to be announced.
As of Monday, the city’s police department said that it would not conduct a case investigation because it believes there was “no evidence of blunt force.”
Aimbridge Hospitality, from the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, which was the hotel Mitchell passed away at, is still investigating the case on their part. The security guards have been suspended.
“Dvontaye’s family is now left searching for answers and justice in the face of this tragic loss,” said Crump per a statement. “We demand a thorough and transparent investigation into the actions of the security guards involved in this incident. It is unacceptable that this case is not being considered a criminal investigation despite the fatal outcome, which the medical examiner considers a homicide.”
NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump has been retained by the family of 43-year-old Dvontaye Mitchell, a Black man who was killed by security guards outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sunday, June 30. pic.twitter.com/dIVRQEJhaI
— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) July 3, 2024
Although details about the beginnings of the death are unclear, with police alleging he “caused a disturbance” that required security guards to escort him out, video footage revealed that a total of four guards pinned Mitchell to the ground.
A white officer was reportedly heard on the video telling him to “stay down” and “stop fighting.” Mitchell can be heard saying both “please” and “I’m sorry.”
Upon the police’s arrival at the hotel, Mitchell was found dead and unresponsive.
Speaking in a conversation with WTMJ, Mitchell’s mother, Brenda Giles, shared that she believed that he was suffering from a mental health episode when he was pinned by the security guards. He has suffered from depression since 2016 when his father passed away.
Drawing comparisons to the death of George Floyd, Mitchell’s passing comes as Black men remain the most common victims of police brutality. In a study released by Yale, out of 242 incidents from 2013 to 2021, Black men made up approximately 40% of the victims killed by police brutality, even as they were off-duty.
“It is deeply troubling that we have lost another Black man in an encounter with security personnel, raising serious concerns about the use of force, lack of accountability, and absence of mental health considerations,” said Crump per a statement. “The fight for justice for Dvontaye Mitchell has just begun, and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable.”
