Canton officers in court after being charged in Frank Tyson's death

Описание: Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch are each facing a felony reckless homicide charge for their alleged role in the death of 53-year-old Frank Tyson, who died in Canton police custody more than a year ago.

On April 18, 2024, the Canton Police Department says their officers were dispatched to a reported single-car crash on the 1700 block of Sherrick Road Southeast. Officers arrived to find a power pole in the roadway and an abandoned vehicle nearby. Police say witnesses then directed the officers to the AMVETS Post in the 1800 block of Sherrick Road, where the driver of the vehicle was reported to have fled.

Body camera footage, released by CPD, shows officers encountering the suspected driver, Frank Tyson. In the video, officers struggle to arrest Tyson before one of the officers restrains him by placing his knee on the back of Tyson's upper body. Tyson is heard on the video repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe."

After Tyson's last words, it also shows a period of over five minutes where he laid motionless on the floor before police checked for a pulse.

The department identified the officers involved as Schoenegge and Burch of the traffic bureau. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy.

On Nov. 1, 2024, Schoenegge and Burch were each indicted by a grand jury. The following week, the pair both pleaded not guilty.

Since then, both sides have prepared for the trial, scheduled to take place on Jan. 26, 2026.

However, last month, Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone filed a motion requesting a special prosecutor be appointed to take over the case. The Wednesday pretrial hearing was scheduled to discuss that motion.

Stone alleges the Canton Police Department has been hostile toward the prosecutor's office since the indictments and argues that bringing in a special prosecutor would be in the best interest of the case.

In the hearing, defense attorney Donald Malarcik disputed those claims, calling the allegations unfounded and asserting that Stone's actions have been politically motivated. Malarcik claimed the Republican Stone strategically announced the indictment in 2024 just days before his reelection.

"Mr. Stone was in a hotly contested election. Four days later, Tuesday, Nov. 5, he was up for election. Mr. Stone obtains the indictment on the Friday before the election and then holds a press conference on Saturday the 2nd, where he speaks about this case," said Malarcik. "Now all of a sudden there's a conflict that prevents him from moving forward? This case is a disaster, these men did nothing wrong, and we need to get to the bottom of this today."

Stone denied that his request for a special prosecutor is part of a politically motivated move. He defeated his Democratic challenger, Richard Reinbold, by 20 points.

Throughout the hearing, visiting Judge James Kimbler appeared to be most concerned about the issue of the motion's timing, emphasizing the trial is two months away.

"We're heading toward a trial. Everybody's got their expert witnesses lined up, everything's been prepared, and all of a sudden, you file this application, and now we're going to have an issue of whether or not there's got to be more proceedings having to take place that wouldn't have taken place if you wouldn't have filed the application," Kimbler told Stone.

Kimbler called a recess, instructing both legal teams to discuss next steps and for Stone to consider whether he should withdraw the application. Following the recess, Kimbler continued the hearing until Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.

If Schonegge and Burch are convicted of reckless homicide, they could each face up to three years in prison.

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