Death of Black man pinned to ground by Milwaukee hotel security draws George Floyd comparisons

A Black man died after four security guards pinned him face down on the ground outside a hotel in Milwaukee in an act his family’s lawyer called “disturbing” and “reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd.”

Dvontaye Mitchell, 43, went to the downtown Hyatt Regency hotel on June 30.

Police said a person had entered the business, “caused a disturbance” and “fought with security guards as they were escorting” him out, Milwaukee police said. Security detained him until police arrived. 

When authorities arrived, he was unresponsive, and after lifesaving measures, he was pronounced deceased, police said.

Jarring video of the interaction recorded by a bystander showed Mitchell prone on the ground in front of the hotel with four security guards pinning him down.

At least one appeared to be kneeling on his back — similar to the position police held Floyd in for over eight minutes before he died May 2020 in Minneapolis. Another security guard was seen at Mitchell's head, and the others held his legs and arms down. One of the guards also appeared to hit him in the head with an object several times.

Mitchell was heard grunting, and in a ragged voice he shouted: “Please! Help! Please! I’m sorry!”

A guard yelled, “Stay down! Stop fighting!”

That guard noticed they were being recorded and said toward the camera, “This is what happens when you go into the ladies room!”

Officials have not detailed what disturbance Mitchell is alleged to have caused, and it's not clear what happened immediately before the video was recorded.

Mitchell’s mother, Brenda Giles, believes her son was suffering a mental health episode, Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney retained by the Mitchell family, said in a statement Wednesday.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner said Mitchell's preliminary manner of death is homicide, which means death at the hands of another person and doesn't always suggest wrongdoing. However, the final results are yet to be determined.

Police said that the cause of death is under investigation but that the case is not being handled as a criminal investigation.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is also reviewing his death.

"The matter has been referred to our office and is currently pending further investigation. There’s no timeline for a charging decision at this time," the office said Monday.

Crump said in the statement Wednesday that the circumstances are “disturbing and as described by a witness, reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd.”

He demanded a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the security guards’ actions.

“The fight for justice for Dvontaye Mitchell has just begun, and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable,” Crump said.

A spokesperson for Hyatt said Monday that the employees involved in the incident have been suspended.

“We are working swiftly with the hotel’s third-party operator, Aimbridge Hospitality, to understand the full extent of what transpired. We understand Aimbridge Hospitality is conducting a thorough investigation and has suspended the employees involved in the incident.”

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who knew and loved Mr. Mitchell,” the spokesperson said, adding that the hotel is cooperating with police.

A spokesperson for Aimbridge Hospitality told NBC affiliate WTMJ of Milwaukee: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mitchell’s family and loved ones. We continue to do everything we can to support law enforcement’s ongoing investigation into this incident and have no further comment at this time. We remain committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all hotel guests and associates.”

Giles, Mitchell’s mother, wants justice for her son.

“He was a loving and kind father, uncle, nephew. He loved family. He loved music. He loved to cook. He loved to be by the water,” she told the Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s “Politics Nation” on Sunday.

She told WTMJ: “They murdered my child. I want them to see this, and I want them to know we want justice to be done. With the security guards, that’s where my frustration lies. Ain’t nobody been charged with this case. They trying to sweep this under the rug, and we not letting it go under the rug.”

She said that when she went to see Mitchell’s body, she was taken aback by his condition.

“It looked like the side of his face was bashed in. It was bashed in, yeah, it was bashed in. All across here, it was just swollen,” she said.

A funeral is set for Thursday.