Milwaukee Hotel Workers Charged in Death of Black Man
Prosecutors in Milwaukee have formally charged four hotel employees with playing a role in the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell. The charges come after video footage showed the workers restraining Mitchell, leading to his death, in a manner reminiscent of George Floyd’s tragic death. Mitchell’s family pushed for weeks for charges to be filed against the workers, and District Attorney John Chisholm ultimately charged each of them with being a party to felony murder.
The incident began on June 30 when Mitchell was seen on hotel surveillance running through the lobby before entering the women’s bathroom. Witnesses reported that Mitchell attempted to lock them in the bathroom, leading to a confrontation with hotel workers. Off-duty security guard Brandon Turner and other employees restrained Mitchell, with Turner reportedly punching Mitchell several times.
According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell was held face down for eight to nine minutes, despite his pleas for them to stop and his difficulty breathing. A bystander’s video captured Mitchell begging for mercy, while one of the workers made a comment about the incident being a consequence of Mitchell going into the women’s bathroom.
The medical examiner’s office determined that Mitchell, who was morbidly obese and had underlying health conditions, died from “restraint asphyxia” caused by the workers’ actions. The manner of death was classified as a homicide. Mitchell’s family drew parallels between his death and George Floyd’s, leading to increased pressure on prosecutors to file charges against the hotel employees.
The hotel workers maintain that they did not intend to cause harm to Mitchell. They claimed they were following instructions from hotel management and were trying to control a situation that had escalated. Legal proceedings are now underway, with arrest warrants issued for the four defendants.
As the case progresses through the court system, the individuals involved will have the opportunity to present their defense and respond to the charges against them. The tragic incident has sparked conversations about the use of force and restraint in similar situations, raising questions about accountability and responsibility in cases of individuals losing their lives during interactions with security personnel.
