Decision on charges in D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death could take “several weeks”

Milwaukee police have filed murder charges against four people involved in the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, who died outside a downtown Milwaukee hotel last month.

But according to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, it could take weeks before a decision on the charges is made.

Mitchell, 43, died on June 30 after four security guards pinned him down on the sidewalk outside the Hyatt Regency hotel. Videos circulating on social media show the security guards holding Mitchell down shortly before his death while at least one security guard appears to kneel on his back. Attorneys for Mitchell’s family say surveillance videos show Mitchell being punched and kicked during the incident.

Kent Lovern, assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County, said his office is still reviewing the case.

“I do not expect a decision on fee collection in the next few weeks,” Lovern wrote in an email on Friday.

Lovern could not be reached for further comment.

Milwaukee police said Friday that no arrests have been made in the case.

According to a spokesman for the hotel’s operator in Milwaukee, Aimbridge Hospitality, “several employees” at the hotel were fired as a result of the incident.

“The conduct of several employees on June 30 violated our policies and procedures and does not reflect our values ​​as an organization or the behavior we expect from our employees,” the company said in a statement. “After reviewing their actions, their employment has been terminated. We will continue our independent investigation and do everything we can to assist law enforcement in their investigation of this tragic incident.”

The names of these employees were not published.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee police announced that they had forwarded the murder charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office on July 5.

“These charges are currently under review and are before the District Attorney,” the department said in a press release Friday. “The investigation is ongoing. The MPD (Milwaukee Police Department) is in regular contact with the District Attorney and will provide him with additional information as it is received.”

Nayisha Mitchell, D’Vontaye’s sister, said waiting several more weeks for a decision was “absurd.”

“There is no reason why it should take weeks for us to get a response from them,” Nayisha Mitchell said in an interview.

“I think it’s completely ridiculous that it will take weeks before they can file charges or arrest anyone,” she added.

In a statement, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, called the charges a “significant step toward justice.”

“We are grateful for the filing of these charges as they underscore the seriousness of the actions that led to D’Vontaye’s sudden and untimely death,” the statement said.

“We must now push for these charges to be formally brought by the public prosecutor’s office so that these officials are truly held accountable,” it continued.

Will Sulton, another attorney for the family, said he viewed video related to the investigation this week. During a news conference Wednesday, Sulton said the video footage, including surveillance footage from the hotel, was “horrific.”

Sulton said the video shows Mitchell being “punched, punched and kicked.” He said it shows Mitchell trying to “block the blows” with his hand.

“It was outrageous and one of the most disgusting things I have seen in my 15 years as a lawyer,” Sulton said.

Crump said he believes Mitchell was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the incident.

“D’Vontaye was a good guy,” Crump said during Wednesday’s press conference. “After his father died, he suffered from depression and mental health issues.”

According to police, Mitchell entered the hotel and “caused a disturbance.”

“The subject (Mitchell) engaged in a struggle with security guards as they escorted the subject out,” Milwaukee police said in a statement. “Security guards detained the subject until police arrived. Upon arrival, the subject was unresponsive and despite life-saving measures, the 43-year-old was pronounced dead.”

A funeral for Mitchell was held Thursday at Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God In Christ in Milwaukee.

Nayisha Mitchell said she wanted to see charges brought, arrests made and convictions made sooner rather than later.

“That would be justice to me,” Nayisha Mitchell said. “At the end of the day, we still won’t have my brother, my brother will be gone, he still won’t be here with us, but at least we’ll know that the people who did this to him will pay and be punished.”