Tyson Family Continues Pursuit of Justice as Civil Rights Case Remains Ongoing
CANTON, OH — September 24, 2026 — Following today’s sentencing of two former Canton police officers in connection with the death of Frank E. Tyson, Bobby DiCello, legal counsel to the Tyson family and Partner at DiCello Levitt, issued the following statement:
“Frank’s family understood coming into court today that, given the charges before the Court, the sentences would not be stark, grand, or powerful. But the loss this family has sustained is all those things.
No sentence can measure what was taken from Frank or from the people who loved him. Throughout this long and painful process, his family has shown extraordinary courage, strength, and resolve. They have continued to stand up for Frank, to demand accountability, and to trust in a legal process that has asked a great deal of them.
We are grateful to the Court for its careful consideration of a difficult case and to everyone who has worked to ensure that Frank’s death was not ignored. Today marks an important point in the criminal proceedings, but it does not end this family’s pursuit of accountability and justice for Frank.
We will keep fighting for the full measure of justice his family deserves.”
Frank Tyson, 53, died on April 18, 2024, after Canton police officers took him to the ground, handcuffed him, and restrained him while he repeatedly said that he could not breathe. Police body-camera footage captured the encounter. The Stark County Coroner subsequently ruled Tyson’s death a homicide.
Former Canton police officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch were initially indicted on reckless homicide charges in connection with Tyson’s death. In August 2026, Burch pleaded guilty to failure to report a crime, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and Schoenegge pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty, a second-degree misdemeanor. Both resigned from the Canton Police Department as part of their plea agreements.
At sentencing Thursday, Burch received a 30-day jail sentence and two years of probation, while Schoenegge received a 90-day jail sentence and three years of probation. The jail terms were suspended, with credit for four days served. During their respective probation periods, neither may seek a position with authority to make arrests.
The Tyson family has separately filed a federal civil rights lawsuit arising from Frank’s death. That civil matter remains ongoing. DiCello Levitt represents the Tyson family in the civil litigation and will continue pursuing accountability on their behalf.
About DiCello Levitt
DiCello Levitt LLP is one of the leading plaintiffs’ law firms in the United States. Nationally recognized for our work in high-stakes class actions, mass torts, and complex litigation, we have recovered more than $25 billion for clients, including individuals, businesses, and communities. We take on some of the world’s most powerful interests, pursuing justice that reshapes industries and improves lives.
Built for trial, DiCello Levitt is among the few plaintiffs’ firms with a dedicated trial center, where our acclaimed trial lawyers bring both art and science to courtroom preparation and trial strategy. We are frequently appointed to lead major multidistrict litigation (MDLs) and consistently recognized among the nation’s top plaintiffs’ firms by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and The National Law Journal, which has named DiCello Levitt Plaintiffs’ Firm of the Year and Trial Strategy Innovation Firm of the Year.
