Rev. Al Sharpton delivers eulogy for Canton man who died in police custody

CANTON, Ohio (WJW) — Mourners, including civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton Junior, gathered at Hear the Word Ministries in Canton on Wednesday for a celebration of life ceremony remembering Frank Tyson.

The 53-year-old died while he was being arrested by Canton Police on April 18. He crashed a car into a utility pole outside of an AMVETS hall, then ran into the building.

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Police body-worn camera video shows officers being met at the door where they were directed to a man standing at the bar. Staff at the bar insisted the officers get him out of the building.

During a confrontation that followed between Tyson and the officers, Tyson was heard repeatedly asking for them to call sheriff’s deputies to the scene while he was resisting the officer’s demands.

He was wrestled to the ground where the body-worn camera video shows him handcuffed with an officer’s knee on his back.

Tyson‘s last words were “I can’t breathe.”

After recognizing that he was unresponsive, officers initiated CPR but were unsuccessful.

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On Wednesday, Tyson was remembered as a man who enjoyed watching sports and discussing team statistics.  He was looking forward to returning to work as an asphalt laborer, spending time with family and with Sibrena Jones, his fiance.

Less than two weeks before his death, Tyson was released from prison after serving 24 years for a kidnapping for which he and his family adamantly insist he was not guilty and say, that even on the day he died, Tyson was working to have his record cleared.

On Wednesday, Tyson was eulogized by Sharpton who came to Canton at the invitation of Tyson‘s family.

Sharpton provided a $10,000 check to pay for Tyson‘s funeral expenses, saying he hopes the Tyson family sues the City of Canton and makes a ‘zillion dollars’ but, they do not need to pay him back

“The challenge is on the city to do what is right. You can’t give us Frank back but you can give justice to this family,” Sharpton said.

Joining the mourners in Canton on Wednesday was Mike Brown Senior, the father of 18-year-old Michael Brown who was shot and killed by police in Ferguson Missouri in 2014.

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Also, there was Jacob Blake Senior of Kenosha, Wisconsin, the father of a 29-year-old who was shot and seriously wounded while walking away from a police officer in August of 2020.

Tiffany Rochelle, the mother of Jalen Randle, who was shot and killed by police in Houston Texas in 2002.

Sabrina Foster, the mother of Glenn Foster who died in December of 2021 three days after the former NFL football player was arrested for speeding and eluding officers in Alabama, where he was wrestled to the ground by the officers, hitting his head on the pavement

Also Joining mourners for Tyson‘s funeral on Wednesday was Andrew Joseph of Tampa, Florida, the father of Joseph Junior who died in February 2014 when he tried to run across an interstate and was hit by a car after being kicked out of a county fair.  His family won a negligence lawsuit against the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

And a brother and uncle of George Floyd, whose death following his arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota four years ago created national outrage after he was heard telling the officers he could not breathe.

“We want these (Canton) policemen to face the same charges that we’re dealing with George Floyd‘s family. And if you think we are playing, thats why we got George‘s brother with us and uncle with us. This morning, there’s several policemen hoping to get lunch in jail in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” Sharpton said. “How they handle this Frank Tyson case will set law in this city. Because if they walk away free, I’m talking about these cops that did this to him, it will set a precedent that next time it will be your child and they will quote the Frank Tyson precedent to establish law.  We cannot afford to establish this kind of recklessness and this kind of abuse on human life. They must pay for Frank Tyson.”

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Sharpton concluded his eulogy by demanding the community “Stand up for Frank Tyson.”

Also speaking at the funeral service was prominent Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, who has worked with the George Floyd family on litigation following his death.

Crump insisted to Wednesday’s congregation that if something is not done then their daughters or sons could be next.

“He was working on his future, he wanted to go to work, they took his life unexpectedly. When I got the call I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Sibrina Jones said.

Tyson‘s brother John concluded the ceremony by asking everyone there to “say his name”.

Sharpton tells the congregation the eyes of the nation will be watching.

“When I’m riding into Canton they tell me this is the home of the Hall of Fame for the NFL. If you can’t do justice for Frank, you will be the hall of shame around this country,” Sharpton said.

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