Four hotel workers have been charged with felony murder in connection with the death of 43-year-old D’Vontaye Mitchell outside a downtown Milwaukee hotel. The incident, partially captured on video, occurred on June 30 outside the Hyatt Regency.
The defendants, including a security manager, front desk agent, security guard, and bellman, are accused of holding Mitchell down for about eight to nine minutes, resulting in his death. The charges were brought after an extensive review of evidence collected by the Milwaukee Police Department and the medical examiner’s office.
According to court documents, the hotel employees used various means of force to restrain Mitchell, including striking him multiple times and holding him face down on the ground. Mitchell died from “restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine,” as determined by the autopsy report.
One of the defendants, the bellman, expressed regret for his involvement in the incident, stating that he was following orders from his superior. Mitchell’s family attorney emphasized that excessive force used by the employees led to Mitchell’s death.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 15 years and nine months in prison. Mitchell’s widow expressed gratitude for the charges but called for further accountability.
The encounter between the hotel workers and Mitchell, as detailed in the complaint, involved a struggle inside the hotel lobby before escalating outside. Mitchell was held down by the employees, with one of them using a collapsible baton on him.
Video evidence shows Mitchell pleading and apologizing while being restrained. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as “restraint asphyxia,” attributing it to the actions of the defendants.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of force, particularly against people of color, and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of such actions following nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Police arrived at the scene to find Mitchell unresponsive and pronounced him dead despite efforts to save him. The case has prompted calls for justice and accountability from Mitchell’s family and advocates.
