All 4 Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder in Black man's death now in custody

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The last of four hotel workers charged in connection with D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death was taken into custody Friday, more than five weeks after he and the others allegedly piled onto the Black man while trying to remove him from a Milwaukee hotel.

Herbert Williamson was taken into custody three days after he and his three co-defendants were charged with being a party to felony murder in Mitchell’s June 30 death at a Hyatt Regency hotel, according to Milwaukee County jail records.

Williamson, a bellhop at the hotel, and the three others were charged after prosecutors scoured video showing them piling on top Mitchell as they tried to remove him from the hotel’s lobby before he died.

Williamson, 52, was charged along with hotel security guard Todd Erickson, 60; front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson, 23; and security guard Brandon Turner, 35. If convicted, each would face up to 15 years and nine months in prison.

Aimbridge Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel, said previously that it fired several employees who were involved in Mitchell’s death.

Williamson, Turner and Johnson-Carson are Black, while Erickson is white, according to online court records.

Mitchell’s family’s attorneys have likened his death to the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died in 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for about nine minutes.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is part of a team of lawyers representing Mitchell’s family, has said video recorded by a bystander and circulating on social media shows security guards with their knees on Mitchell’s back and neck.

According to a criminal complaint, Mitchell ran into the hotel on June 30 and entered a women’s bathroom. An employee dragged him outside and, with the three others, held him down on his stomach for eight or nine minutes while Mitchell gasped for breath.

The county medical examiner determined that Mitchell died of “restraint asphyxia” and noted that he might have lived had the employees allowed him to turn onto his side, according to the criminal complaint.

An autopsy showed that Mitchell had obesity, and had ingested cocaine and methamphetamine, the complaint states.

Erickson was ordered held on a $50,000 cash bond and Turner on a $30,000 cash bond after both made initial court appearances this week, records show. They have preliminary hearings scheduled for Aug. 19. Johnson-Carson made his initial court appearance on Friday. He was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond, online court records show.

Records didn't list the date of Williamson's initial hearing.

All four remained in custody as of Friday morning, according to jail records.

Attorneys for Erickson, Turner and Johnson-Carson didn't immediately respond to Friday messages seeking comment. Court records didn't list an attorney for Williamson.

This undated booking photo provided by Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office shows Devin Johnson-Carson, one of the four hotel workers charged with killing D’Vontaye Mitchell after allegedly piling on top him while trying to remove him from a Milwaukee hotel.

This booking image provided by the Milwaukee County, Wis., Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, shows Todd Erickson, one of four former hotel employees charged with being a party to D'Vontaye Mitchell's murder on June 30. (Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

This booking photo provided by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office shows Brandon Turner. (Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office via AP)

FILE - Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at the funeral for D'Vontaye Mitchell Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Milwaukee. Mitchell died June 30. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

FILE - Rev. Al Sharpton pauses at the funeral for D'Vontaye Mitchell, July 11, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

All 4 Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder in Black man's death now in custody

All 4 Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder in Black man's death now in custody

FILE - This undated photo provided by Samantha Mitchell shows D'Vontaye Mitchell, left, who died on June 30, 2024, after being pinned to the ground by hotel security guards in Milwaukee with his sister Nayish Mitchell and cousin Samantha Mitchell. (Samantha Mitchell via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their third consecutive playoff appearance Friday night with a 12-2 victory over the New York Mets.

Assured at least a National League wild card, the Phillies can secure their first NL East title since 2011 with one more win this weekend against the second-place Mets at Citi Field.

With the division crown so close, Philadelphia planned a mellow celebration following Friday night's game — hoping to let loose soon with a boozy clubhouse bash after locking up first place.

Seeking their third World Series championship, the Phillies overtook Atlanta for the division lead on May 3 and haven't trailed since.

Philadelphia (92-62) has the best record in the major leagues and is on track for a first-round bye in the playoffs. It's the third time the Phillies have reached the postseason three years in a row (1976-78 and 2007-11).

Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos have powered the offense, while Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez have anchored the pitching staff on a team largely unchanged from 2023.

Philadelphia won five straight NL East titles from 2007-11, then went 10 years without making the playoffs. A wild-card entry each of the past two postseasons, the Phillies put together consecutive October runs that ended in heartbreak.

They reached the 2022 World Series, losing to Houston in six games, and dropped a seven-game NL Championship Series to Arizona last year after leading the underdog Diamondbacks 2-0 and 3-2.

So this time, the Phillies are looking to go all the way and finally finish the job.

Philadelphia's only World Series championships came in 1980 and 2008.

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Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm is congratulated by Trea Turner, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)