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The family of Dvontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old Black man who died after being restrained by security guards outside the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee, is calling for criminal charges against those involved. The incident occurred on June 30, when four security guards pinned Mitchell to the ground in the hotel’s driveway. Cellphone footage captured the guards instructing Mitchell to “stay down” and “stop fighting.”
Witness Shawn Moore, who observed the incident while walking to a nearby store, described hearing the sounds of Mitchell being struck. He intervened, along with another bystander, but the guards continued to hold Mitchell down until police arrived. Moore recounted how one guard mentioned Mitchell had a pulse, but CPR was administered shortly after, raising concerns about the use of force.
The Milwaukee police stated that Mitchell was involved in a disturbance inside the hotel and resisted the guards’ attempts to escort him outside. Despite lifesaving efforts, Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner’s office has preliminarily ruled the death a homicide, with further tests pending.
Mitchell’s family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, likened the incident to the 2020 death of George Floyd. Crump and the family are demanding accountability and potential criminal charges against the security guards. The district attorney’s office is awaiting full autopsy results to determine if criminal liability is warranted.
The Hyatt Regency, operated by Aimbridge Hospitality, has suspended the employees involved in the incident and expressed condolences to Mitchell’s family. Both the hotel and Aimbridge have pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
