On June 30, D’Vontaye Mitchell died as hotel security guards held him face down for 10 minutes and from the effects of drug use. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office released a report detailing his cause of death as asphyxiation from being held down and from cocaine and methamphetamine. Mitchell, who was described as combative, was restrained by four individuals after creating a scene in a hotel lobby, which led to his death. The family has called for charges to be brought against those involved, and the DA’s office is awaiting the final medical examiner’s report before making a decision. The report describes how Mitchell was held down for 10 minutes, became combative with the guards, and eventually stopped resisting before he was held down on the concrete until police arrived. Mitchell’s family was informed of his death by a police detective, who learned that he was homeless and recently admitted to a drug rehabilitation clinic. The medical examiner’s office determined Mitchell’s death was a homicide caused by being restrained by hotel security and drug use. One of the family’s attorneys criticized the inclusion of drug use in the report, stating that it was reckless to suggest it had anything to do with Mitchell’s death. Mitchell’s death has sparked community outrage, and protests have been organized by the family to seek justice for his death.
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