Two Canton police officers charged in connection with the 2024 death of Frank Tyson accepted plea agreements Monday just as their trial was set to begin with jury selection.
Camden Burch and Beau Schoenegge had each been charged with reckless homicide in connection with Tyson’s April 18, 2024, death while in Canton police custody. The case had faced multiple delays before reaching the scheduled trial date.
According to Jordan Miller News partner News 5 Cleveland, both officers entered guilty pleas Monday to lesser misdemeanor charges.
Burch pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of failure to report a crime. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail.
Schoenegge pleaded guilty to a second-degree misdemeanor charge of dereliction of duty, which carries a possible sentence of up to 90 days in jail.
As part of the plea agreements, both officers agreed to immediately resign from the Canton Police Department.
Sentencing will be held at a later date.
Tyson’s death
Tyson died following an encounter with Canton police on April 18, 2024.
Police said officers initially responded after finding a utility pole in the roadway and Tyson’s unoccupied vehicle nearby. Witnesses later directed officers across the street to an AMVETS lodge, where Tyson was located.
Body camera footage released after the incident showed officers struggling with Tyson before restraining and handcuffing him on the ground.
During the encounter, Tyson repeatedly told officers that he could not breathe. At one point, body camera footage showed an officer with a knee on Tyson’s back while Tyson was handcuffed.
Officers began CPR approximately seven minutes after Tyson was handcuffed and continued resuscitation efforts for about 10 minutes.
Tyson was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Stark County Coroner’s Office later ruled Tyson’s death a homicide.
Burch and Schoenegge were subsequently indicted on reckless homicide charges in connection with Tyson’s death. Those charges were resolved through Monday’s plea agreements.
Both men are awaiting sentencing.
