Last month, a tragic incident occurred outside a Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee, resulting in the death of a Black man named Dvontaye Mitchell. The hotel employees involved in the incident have since been terminated from their positions by Aimbridge Hospitality, the operator of the downtown hotel.
Aimbridge Hospitality released a statement expressing that the actions of several associates on June 30 were in violation of company policies and did not align with their organizational values. The termination of these employees was deemed necessary after a thorough review of their conduct. The company also pledged to cooperate with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation of the incident.
While the exact number of employees fired has not been disclosed, it is unclear if the security guards directly involved in the altercation with Mitchell are among those terminated. Initially, the security guards were suspended pending the completion of Aimbridge Hospitality's investigation.
According to reports, Mitchell, aged 43, was escorted out of the hotel by security guards after allegedly causing a disturbance. Witness video footage captured part of the incident, showing Mitchell being pinned to the ground by security personnel. In the video, Mitchell can be heard pleading with the guards and expressing remorse for the situation.
Upon police arrival, Mitchell was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead despite efforts to revive him. The circumstances leading up to the encounter between Mitchell and the security guards remain unclear, as well as the response time of law enforcement to the scene.
This incident has reignited discussions about the use of force, particularly against people of color, by individuals in positions of authority. The firing of the Hyatt security personnel has been viewed as a step towards addressing the unjust actions that led to Mitchell's death, as stated by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Mitchell family.
As the investigation continues, the community awaits further details regarding the events that transpired at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee and hopes for accountability in the pursuit of justice for Dvontaye Mitchell.
