Four Hotel Workers Charged in Fatal Restraint of Guest in Milwaukee

In a case drawing parallels to the George Floyd incident, four hotel workers in Milwaukee have been charged with felony murder following the death of D'Vontaye Mitchell on June 30, 2024. The incident, which occurred at a Hyatt Regency hotel, has reignited discussions about excessive force and racial injustice.

Herbert Williamson, a 52-year-old bellhop, was the last of the four accused to be taken into custody on August 7, 2024. The other defendants include Todd Erickson, 60, a security guard; Devin Johnson-Carson, 23, a front desk worker; and Brandon Turner, 35, another security guard. If found guilty, each could face up to 15 years and nine months in prison.

The charges stem from an incident where the employees allegedly restrained Mitchell while attempting to remove him from the hotel lobby. According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell had entered a women's bathroom before being forcibly removed. The four employees then held him face-down for approximately eight to nine minutes, during which time Mitchell struggled to breathe.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, an office established in 1857, determined the cause of death to be "restraint asphyxia." This form of asphyxia occurs when physical restraint impedes breathing. The autopsy also revealed that Mitchell had ingested cocaine and methamphetamine prior to the incident and suffered from obesity.

Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney representing Mitchell's family, has drawn comparisons between this case and the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Crump stated that bystander video shows security guards with their knees on Mitchell's back and neck, reminiscent of the technique that led to Floyd's death.

The incident has raised questions about the use of force by private security personnel and the potential racial implications of such encounters. Three of the accused - Williamson, Turner, and Johnson-Carson - are Black, while Erickson is white.

Aimbridge Hospitality, the largest third-party hotel management company globally, which manages the Hyatt Regency where the incident occurred, has terminated the employment of those involved in Mitchell's death.

The legal proceedings are ongoing, with preliminary hearings scheduled for August 19, 2024, for Erickson and Turner. These hearings will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Johnson-Carson and Williamson are awaiting their initial court appearances.

This case highlights the increasing importance of video evidence in criminal proceedings, a trend that has grown significantly since the widespread adoption of smartphones. It also underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing issues of excessive force and racial justice in the United States, four years after the George Floyd protests sparked a global movement against police brutality and systemic racism.

As the legal process unfolds, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential consequences of improper restraint techniques and the need for comprehensive training in de-escalation and safe restraint methods for all security personnel, whether in law enforcement or private sectors.