Video shows: Black man dies after being detained by hotel guards in Milwaukee

Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Mitchell’s family, said in a statement that a witness to the June 30 incident reported seeing one of the security guards “hit him in the head with an object.” Police did not respond to those allegations.

“It is deeply disturbing that we have lost another Black man in an encounter with security forces, raising serious concerns about the use of force, lack of accountability, and lack of consideration for mental health,” Crump added in the statement. “The circumstances of Dvontaye’s death outside the Hyatt Regency hotel are disturbing and, as described by a witness, reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd.”

Floyd, who was black, died in Minneapolis in 2020 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes – an incident that sparked a wave of global protests against racial inequality. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was convicted and sent to federal prison.

Police said they were called to the Hyatt around 3:20 p.m. on June 30 regarding a person causing a disturbance. They received a report that the person began struggling while being escorted out of the building. When they arrived, officers found the person unresponsive and attempted to perform “life-saving measures” to no avail.

Crump’s statement identified the person as Mitchell and said his mother “believes he was having a mental breakdown.”

“A shocking cell phone video confirms the accounts of several witnesses,” the statement continued. “In the face of this tragic loss, Dvontaye’s family is now seeking answers and justice.”

It is not clear what happened immediately before or after the videos were taken. In one video shared by local media, a security guard appears to address the person filming the video, yelling, “This is what happens when you enter the ladies’ room.” The company that operates the hotel, Aimbridge Hospitality, did not immediately respond to a question about whether Mitchell entered a ladies’ room.

Mitchell’s family and his legal team should be given access to all footage of the events that day, his mother Brenda Giles said Monday during a press conference near the hotel, adding: “I want justice for my son.”

“From the time he got here, to the time he went in there, to the time he ran into that bathroom… we should be able to see all of that. Why didn’t they show us?” asked Mitchell’s sister, Nayisha Mitchell.

Milwaukee police said they are investigating the incident and the cause of Mitchell’s death.

“The matter has been forwarded to our office and is currently pending further investigation. There is currently no timeline for a decision to file charges,” the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office told the Post on Tuesday.

The Milwaukee County Coroner’s Office on July 1 declared the preliminary cause of death to be homicide, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The coroner’s office said in 2018 that it defines homicide as “death ‘at the hands of another person,’ regardless of intent” and that this definition is based solely on “the medical evidence available at the time of the investigation.” Its determination does not necessarily mean that someone else is legally responsible for the death.

The office did not respond to a request for comment early Tuesday.

Giles told NBC affiliate WTMJ in Milwaukee that Mitchell was “a loving son, brother, uncle and dad.” However, she said Mitchell changed after his father died in 2016.

Nayisha Mitchell said her brother fell into depression afterward and “tried to work on himself as well.”

She told WISN 12 News that the security team “should have been trained to deal with these types of situations. Mental illness is real.”

A Hyatt spokesman said: “In light of this tragedy, we extend our deepest condolences to Dvontaye Mitchell’s family, all who knew and loved him, and the Milwaukee community.”

The spokesperson said the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee is “operated by Aimbridge Hospitality, which is responsible for the management of hotel employees, including disciplinary action against those involved in this incident. To our knowledge, Aimbridge Hospitality is still in the process of completing its investigation and has suspended its employees involved in the incident as of today.”

A spokesperson for Aimbridge Hospitality said: “We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Mitchell’s family and loved ones. We continue to do everything we can to assist with the ongoing law enforcement investigation into this incident and have no further comment at this time. We remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all hotel guests and employees.”