Here's a look at violent and fatal Canton police encounters in recent years

CANTON – Over the last few years, city police have been involved in several high-profile confrontations that sparked outrage in the community, including the death earlier this year of Frank Tyson .

Most recently, a video began circulating online showing a Canton police officer kick a 21-year-old man in the chest during an arrest. The man who was kicked was alongside two others, and officers had ordered them to the ground. The men appeared to be complying when an officer charged and kicked him.

The incident has renewed complaints from community members who say they are tired of being mistreated by police. It also prompted Mayor William V. Sherer II to speak out.

"You've heard me say on more than one occasion that we can do better — and I'm tired of saying it," Sherer said Monday. "It is about action. This behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by any department in the city, including Canton PD. This will be handled."

Here's a look at other major incidents in recent years and where they stand:

James Williams

In January 2022, James Williams, 46, was firing a Ruger AR-556 rifle into the air to ring in the new year when he was shot and killed by officer Robert Huber who had been standing on the other side of wooden fence. Officers had been responding to earlier reports of gunfire at Williams' house.

A Stark County grand jury decided not to indict Huber on criminal charges related to the fatal shooting, ruling the use of deadly force was justified .

Jeffrey Neff

In June 2023, officers responded to a neighbor's report of Jeffrey Neff in an altercation with his wife.

When police arrived, Neff ran, according to an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation report . After a lengthy chase, Neff encountered officer Jacob Dryden and shot Dryden in the leg. Dryden returned fire and killed the 41-year-old Neff.

The grand jury did not indict Dryden in the shooting based on the facts and testimony provided, according to Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone.

Zachary Fornash

Zachary Fornash , 24, was shot and killed by Canton police in December 2023.

Officer Garrett Marino had been responding to a report of a man who brandished a gun during an argument. He found Fornash in the 900 block of Alan Page Drive SE and instructed him to get on the ground or put his hands on his head. Fornash did not comply and walked away, his back facing Marino. Fornash then quickly turned back around, and Marino shot him, a video released by police shows.

Following the shooting, the gun in Fornash's possession was revealed to be a pellet gun. Marino, who had been on paid administrative leave, returned to full duty on Jan. 24.

Ohio BCI completed its review of the shooting in June and sent it to the Stark County Prosecutor's Office for review. As of July, the case has not been brought to the grand jury, according to the prosecutor's office.

Frank Tyson

After crashing his car into a utility pole on April 18, Frank Tyson, 53, ran into a nearby building. Soon after, he was apprehended by police, who brought him to the ground.

He was placed face down on the floor. Tyson repeatedly said, "I can't breathe," to officers before becoming silent a minute after he was handcuffed.

Officers later realized they could not feel a pulse and removed handcuffs and began chest compressions. Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch were placed on administrative leave following the incident. Bodycam footage from the incident circulated online, with many comparing Tyson's death to that of George Floyd , the man killed by Minneapolis police in 2020.

The Ohio BCI investigation is still ongoing, but this month, Tyson's preliminary autopsy was released, listing his death as a homicide. There were other causes, as well, such as acute intoxication by cocaine and alcohol, and cardiopulmonary arrest. The officers are now on restricted assignment.

Police release K-9 on detained Canton resident

In May , a city police dog was released on a man who was lying face down with his hands crossed behind his back.

The man had been yelling at officer Nicholas Casto and his K-9, Scooby, who had responded to the 1100 block of 16th Street NW to help officers who were facing a growing and combative crowd following a traffic stop of a vehicle that had failed to use a turn signal before parking.

Casto's body camera video shows that he told the man that he was under arrest for taunting the K-9, and three other police officers approached the man to handcuff him.

The officers had the man lying face down in the grass with his hands crossed behind him when Casto approached with the police dog and allowed the dog to aggressively bite the man’s arm that was still crossed behind his back.

Following an internal investigation, Casto was fired in June for violating departmental rules and regulations. The man has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassing a police dog. A charge of resisting arrest has been dismissed in Canton Municipal Court at the prosecutor's request.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Here's a look at violent and fatal Canton police encounters in recent years