The Rev. Al Sharpton and family members of an Ohio man who died in police custody told mourners at his funeral on Wednesday that they and the community must fight to see that he gets justice.
Sharpton gave the eulogy for Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old East Canton resident, during the service at the Hear The Word Ministries church in Canton. Tyson died April 18 after he was handcuffed and left facedown on the floor of a social club while telling officers he couldn't breathe.
“You can’t give us Frank back, but you can do justice for this family,” Sharpton said. “This is an assault on all us ... stand up for the Franks of this word, because if they can get away with what they did to Frank, they’ll do it to you.”
Tyson's longtime partner, Sabrina Jones, noted that Tyson had been in prison for many years and was released less than two weeks before he died. She and members of his family had worked over the years on efforts to exonerate Tyson, who had long maintained his innocence.
“We only had 13 days with him (after his release) before they took his life away,” Jones said during the service, struggling to keep her composure at times. "It's hard, this is hard. I want justice for Frank.”
Bodycam video released by police shows Tyson resisted while being handcuffed and said repeatedly, “They’re trying to kill me” and “Call the sheriff,” as he was taken to the floor.
Tyson, who was Black, was taken into custody shortly after a vehicle crash that had severed a utility pole. Police body-camera footage showed that after a passing motorist directed officers to the bar, a woman opened the door and said: “Please get him out of here, now.”
Police restrained Tyson — including with a knee on his back — and he immediately told officers he could not breathe. A recent Associated Press investigation found those words — “I can’t breathe” — had been disregarded in other cases of deaths in police custody.
Officers told Tyson he was fine, to calm down and to stop fighting as he was handcuffed facedown with his legs crossed on the carpeted floor. Police were joking with bystanders and leafing through Tyson’s wallet before realizing he was in a medical crisis.
Five minutes after the body-camera footage recorded Tyson saying “I can’t breathe,” one officer asked another if Tyson had calmed down. The other replied, “He might be out.”
The two Canton officers involved, who are white, have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Tyson was released from state prison on April 6 after serving 24 years on a kidnapping and theft case and was almost immediately declared a post-release control supervision violator for failing to report to a parole officer, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation said in a statement last month that its probe will not determine if force was justified and that the prosecuting attorney or a grand jury will decide if charges related to the use of force are warranted.
FILE - This image, taken from Canton Police body camera video, shows 53-year-old Frank E. Tyson on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Canton, Ohio. Police say Tyson, a resident of East Canton, was arrested in a tavern after he crashed his car into a nearby utility pole. He died after being handcuffed by police. (Canton Police Department via AP, File)
Pallbearers carry the casket of Frank Tyson out of Hear The Word Ministries church following funeral services Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Canton, Ohio. Tyson, a 53-year-old Black man, died April 18 after he was handcuffed and left facedown on the floor of a social club while telling officers he couldn't breathe. (AP Photo)
ROME (AP) — The Italian Open was where it all began for Alexander Zverev with his first Masters Series title seven years ago.
On Sunday, another Rome trophy signaled a career revival.
Zverev put on a serving clinic to beat 24th-ranked Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 and earn his biggest trophy since tearing his ankle apart two years ago.
“The last two years have been extremely difficult,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “I didn’t know whether I was ever going to be on this stage — regardless of winning or losing — so this moment is extremely special.”
It was Zverev’s third final in Rome. He won in 2017 by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets then lost to Rafael Nadal in the title match a year later.
"Rome is a very special place for me,” Zverev said.
Zverev opened the match with three straight aces and won 20 of his 21 service points in the first set. The German didn't drop a point on his first serve until late in the second set when the 6-foot-7 (2.01 meter) Jarry ran down a well-placed drop shot and replied with a cross-court winner.
In all, Zverev won 44 of his 49 service points — helped by getting in 95% of his first serves.
“His service, apart from being very good, is very different from all the other servers. He takes the ball very high, so the bounce is very special,” Jarry said. “It took me time to get the trajectory of it.”
It’s been a long road of recovery for the fifth-ranked Zverev after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
When Zverev broke Jarry to convert his fourth match point, he dropped to his knees on the red clay court, leaned back and let out a scream.
This year’s French Open starts next Sunday and now Zverev has established himself among the favorites again — especially with top-ranked Djokovic and 14-time Roland Garros champion Nadal both struggling lately. Djokovic and Nadal were eliminated in the second and third rounds, respectively, in Rome.
There are also injury concerns for second-ranked Jannik Sinner (hip) and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz (right forearm) — who both withdrew from Rome.
“The focus is on Paris," Zverev said. "But let me enjoy this one for a day or so, and then I’ll have my full focus on Paris.”
Zverev, who has disputed a penalty order from a German court over allegations that he caused bodily harm to a woman, faces a trial starting during Roland Garros. He said recently that he won’t attend the start of the legal proceedings.
And Zverev isn’t 100% healthy either. He had the pinky on his left hand bandaged due to a fall in his quarterfinal win over Taylor Fritz, after which he said he “tore a capsule” and that his finger was “crooked.” The German plays right-handed but uses a two-handed backhand.
Zverev will also be defending his gold medal when the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is held at Roland Garros starting in late July.
Jarry, a Chilean playing in his first Masters Series final, upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
“This has been an incredible week," Jarry said.
Jarry was cheered on by his grandfather, Jaime Fillol, who was a top-20 player and who gave Jarry his first racket as a kid. Fillol was on Chile’s Davis Cup team that lost the 1976 final to Italy.
Jarry's wife and two sons were also courtside and he grew emotional during the trophy ceremony and had to look away from his family to regain his composure.
“This is a fantastic example of what a family life on tour can look like,” Zverev said.
“I’m not so emotional,” Zverev added. “My dad cries, I don’t cry. It’s a good mix.”
It was Zverev’s first Masters final since getting beat by Alcaraz at the 2022 Madrid Open. The only previous titles he won since his ankle injury came in Hamburg, Germany, and Chengdu, China, last year.
Zverev earned a winner’s check of 963,225 euros (more than $1 million).
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek beat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday.
In the women’s doubles final, Coco Gauff double faulted on match point to hand Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy the title with a 6-3, 4-6, (10-8) victory. Gauff teamed with Erin Routliffe.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2 for the men’s doubles title.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, plays with his children Santiago and Juan after his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy and his parents, Alexander and Irina, after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Second placed Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, left and winner Alexander Zverev, of Germany, pose with their awards at the end of his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, serves to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, prepares to serve to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, prepares to serve to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, returns the ball to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexanders Zverev, of Germany, left, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, wipes his face during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, right, and Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, embrace each other at the end of the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns with a backhand to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after scoring a point against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
