MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥 The death of Black man who was pinned to the ground by security guards outside a Milwaukee hotel has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy released Friday.
D鈥橵ontaye Mitchell suffocated while being restrained on June 30 and was suffering from the effects of drugs in his system, according to findings issued by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office.
The findings state that Mitchell鈥檚 immediate cause of death was 鈥渞estraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine.鈥 The homicide ruling confirms the medical examiner's office鈥檚 preliminary finding made last month that Mitchell鈥檚 death was a homicide
The Milwaukee County District Attorney鈥檚 office said previously that it and police investigators were awaiting full autopsy results and that the case was being reviewed as a homicide.
The Associated Press sent an email and left a phone message Friday for the district attorney's office seeking comment on the autopsy report and asking whether its findings would be taken into consideration when decisions on charges are made.
The autopsy, signed Wednesday by assistant medical examiner Lauren A. Decker, states that Mitchell鈥檚 鈥渋njury鈥 happened while he was 鈥渞estrained in prone position by multiple individuals after drug (cocaine, methamphetamine) use.鈥
It also states that Mitchell had the 鈥渟ignificant conditions鈥 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and morbid obesity. A separate demographic report released by the medical examiner's office states that Mitchell was 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weighed 301 pounds (137 kilograms).
The medical examiner's office also released an investigative report on Friday that said Mitchell 鈥渨as restrained by four people after being combative in the hotel lobby.鈥
鈥淗e reportedly went unresponsive while staff awaited police arrival,鈥 the report said.
Mitchell died after he was held down on his stomach by security guards outside a Hyatt Regency hotel. Police have said he entered the hotel, caused a disturbance and fought with the guards as they were escorting him out.
Relatives of Mitchell and their lawyers had previously provided by the district attorney鈥檚 office. They described seeing Mitchell being chased inside the hotel by security guards and then dragged outside where he was beaten.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is part of a team of lawyers representing Mitchell鈥檚 family, has said video recorded by a bystander and circulating on social media shows security guards with their knees on Mitchell鈥檚 back and neck. Crump has also questioned why Milwaukee authorities had not filed any charges related to Mitchell鈥檚 death.
Crump and Mitchell's family said Friday in a statement that the autopsy findings and homicide ruling 鈥渄emand immediate charges against鈥 those involved in Mitchell's death.
鈥淢itchell was in the midst of a mental health crisis and, instead of abiding by their duty to protect and serve, the security officers and other Hyatt staff used excessive force that inflicted injury resulting in death,鈥 the statement says. "We will not rest until we achieve justice for Mitchell and his grieving family.鈥
Aimbridge Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel, said previously that several employees involved in Mitchell鈥檚 death have been fired.
