MADISON, Wis. — Four former Milwaukee hotel workers accused of killing a man by pinning him down pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges.
The former Hyatt Hotel employees — security guards Todd Erickson and Brandon Turner, bellhop Herbert Williamson and front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson — were each charged with one count of being a party to felony murder earlier this month in connection with D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death.
Online court records indicate all four entered not guilty pleas during arraignment proceedings Thursday morning in Milwaukee.
Asked for comment on the his client’s plea, Johnson-Carson’s attorney, Craig Johnson, referred a reporter to a statement he gave following the former workers’ preliminary hearings Monday. Johnson said then that Johnson-Carson was trying to protect hotel guests from Mitchell and that he plans to contest any connection between Mitchell’s death and Johnson-Carson’s actions.
Attorneys for Erickson and Turner did not immediately respond to email and voicemail messages seeking comment on the pleas. No contact information could be found for Williamson’s attorney, Theodore O’Reilly.
Mitchell died on June 30. According to court documents, surveillance and bystander video shows Mitchell running into the Hyatt’s lobby and entering the women’s bathroom. Two women later told investigators that Mitchell tried to lock them in the bathroom.
Turner and a hotel guest scuffed with Mitchell and eventually dragged him out of the lobby onto a hotel driveway. Erickson, Williamson and Johnson-Carson joined Turner in pinning Mitchell down for eight to nine minutes, according to court documents. By the time emergency responders arrived Mitchell had stopped moving.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Mitchell was morbidly obese and suffered from heart disease. He also had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system. The office determined he suffocated and ruled the manner of death as homicide.
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 knelt on his neck for about nine minutes. Mitchell also was Black. Court records identify Erickson as white and Turner, Williamson and Johnson-Carson as Black.
The four workers told investigators Mitchell was strong and tried to bite Erickson but they didn’t mean to intentionally harm him.
Aimbridge Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel, fired the four workers in July.
Three former hotel workers have pleaded not guilty to accusations of killing a man by pinning him down during a violent altercation. The incident, which occurred at a hotel in a popular tourist destination, has shocked the community and raised questions about the safety and security of hotel guests.
The three defendants, who were employed as security guards at the hotel, are facing charges of manslaughter and assault in connection with the death of the victim. According to reports, the victim was involved in a dispute with hotel staff over a billing issue when the altercation turned physical. The defendants allegedly restrained the victim by pinning him down, leading to his death.
The case has sparked outrage and concern among hotel guests and employees alike. Many are questioning the training and protocols in place for hotel security personnel, as well as the accountability of hotel management in ensuring the safety of their guests.
In response to the incident, the hotel has issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s family and emphasizing their commitment to cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation. They have also announced plans to review and update their security procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The tragic death of the victim has shed light on the potential dangers that can arise in hotel settings, where guests may be vulnerable to harm from staff members who are supposed to ensure their safety. It serves as a reminder of the importance of proper training and oversight for hotel employees, particularly those in security roles.
As the case moves forward in the legal system, many are hopeful that justice will be served for the victim and his family. In the meantime, it is crucial for hotels and other hospitality establishments to take proactive steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.
