Hyatt Regency Milwaukee Employees Fired Following Death of D’Vontaye Mitchell

By Jordan Bradley

Several employees at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee in Wisconsin have been fired for their involvement in the June 30 death of D’Vontaye Mitchell.

Mitchell, 43, died outside the hotel after he had been detained by security guards and was unresponsive when police arrived, and was pronounced dead on the scene, according to local authorities. Video footage of the incident has circulated online, showing three to four individuals holding Mitchell on the ground. It is as yet unclear what prompted hotel security and personnel to detain Mitchell.

Ben Crump, the attorney hired by Mitchell’s family to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident is held, noted Mitchell’s mother “believes he was suffering from a mental health episode.” Crump’s representatives provided his comments to USAE.

The Milwaukee Police Department said that “felony murder charges with the underlying charge of battery were referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office against four individuals” in a July 12 statement.

These charges were under review and pending the results of an autopsy report with the District Attorney (DA) at the time of press deadline.
“While this development cannot undo the pain and loss experienced by D’Vontaye’s family, it is a crucial part of the process to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” Crump said.

Mitchell’s family members and local community gathered to protest outside the home of Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm July 16 to protest the lack of charges against the individuals involved in Mitchell’s death, according to local reports.

A Hyatt spokesperson extended “heartfelt condolences” to Mitchell’s family, friends and the Milwaukee community, and echoes his family’s “calls for transparency, accountability, and justice for this senseless tragedy.”

Aimbridge Hospitality, the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee’s management company which oversees hotel employees, said in an emailed statement to USAE that the conduct exhibited by several of the hotel’s associates during the incident “violated our policies and procedures, and does not reflect our values as an organization or the behaviors we expect from our associates.”

“Following review of their actions, their employment has been terminated,” the Aimbridge spokesperson said, but did not specify how many employees were fired. “We will continue our independent investigation and do everything we can to support law enforcement with their investigation into this tragic incident.”

Crump said that Aimbridge’s decision to fire the employees involved “highlights how unjustified D’Vontaye’s death truly was. After viewing the video from inside the hotel with the DA’s office, it is completely understandable and appropriate that these personnel have been fired for their assault, battery and excessive force on D’Vontaye, which led to his death.”

One of the employees involved in the incident – who was later fired by Aimbridge – spoke with local news outlet, FOXNews 6 Milwaukee, July 12 regarding Mitchell’s death. The former bellhop said that a manager had pulled him and a front desk associated into the incident. The man said he did not want to participate but was concerned about losing his job.

The former Hyatt Regency Milwaukee employee said that Aimbridge placed him on paid leave beginning July 1, the day following Mitchell’s death, and told him not to speak with media. He was fired July 10, he told FOXNews 6. At the time of the interview, July 12, he had not been contacted by the Milwaukee Police Department about potential charges.