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Milwaukee Man’s Death Ruled Homicide Following Hotel Incident
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The case involving the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a Black man who died after being restrained by security personnel outside a hotel in Milwaukee, has been classified as a homicide according to an autopsy released on Friday.
Mitchell suffocated on June 30 while under restraint, with the autopsy indicating that drug influences were a factor in his condition at the time of the incident. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that the cause of death was attributed to “restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine.” This ruling supports the preliminary assessment made by the medical examiner last month.
Previously, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office had noted that a thorough review was underway, pending the final autopsy results, reinforcing the classification of the case as a homicide.
In an effort to gather more information, the Associated Press reached out to the district attorney’s office for comments on the autopsy findings and whether they would influence any decisions regarding potential charges against those involved.
The autopsy report, signed by assistant medical examiner Lauren A. Decker, explained that Mitchell sustained injuries while being restrained in a prone position by multiple individuals after using drugs. Additionally, it highlighted that Mitchell had pre-existing health issues, including hypertensive cardiovascular disease and morbid obesity. According to the medical examiner’s demographic report, he stood at 6 feet tall and weighed 301 pounds.
An associated investigative report indicated that Mitchell had been held down by four individuals after allegedly behaving aggressively in the hotel lobby, where he became unresponsive while awaiting police intervention.
The tragic events unfolded outside the Hyatt Regency hotel, where Mitchell was reportedly involved in a disturbance that led to a physical confrontation with security personnel attempting to remove him from the premises.
Family members of Mitchell, along with their legal representatives, have reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel, describing scenes where Mitchell was pursued by security guards and subsequently pulled outside where he was allegedly attacked. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, part of the legal team representing Mitchell’s relatives, claimed that bystander video footage circulating on social media reveals security personnel applying significant pressure to Mitchell’s back and neck.
In a statement released on Friday, Crump and Mitchell’s family urged for immediate legal action against those responsible for Mitchell’s death. “Mitchell was experiencing a mental health crisis, and instead of fulfilling their obligation to protect and serve, the security staff and hotel employees employed excessive force that led to his death,” the statement asserted. “We will not rest until justice is served for Mitchell and his family.”
Aimbridge Hospitality, the management company for the hotel, previously indicated that several employees involved in the incident have been terminated from their positions.
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