CANTON, Ohio — Two Canton police officers charged in the death of Frank Tyson pleaded not guilty today, but not in person.

For the second time this week, officers did not physically appear in court.

“It’s hard to explain to a family that the people who allegedly killed your loved ones didn’t have to do the same things that everyone else had to do, it’s been very difficult,” said Bobby DiCello, an attorney for the Tyson family. in question.

Tyson died during an arrest recorded on police body camera in April.

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Judges have discretion over how events unfold in court.

In that case, the officers’ attorneys filed paperwork waiving their clients’ attendance at the hearing and entered a written declaration of innocence.

DiCello met with Tyson’s family after today’s hearing.

Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch were released on bail. The two were indicted by a grand jury last week on charges of reckless homicide.

Canton police body camera video shows officers finding a wrecked car and damaged utility pole before crossing paths with Tyson at the veterans’ lounge.

Tyson was heard yelling for them to call the sheriff’s office before being laid face down on the ground.

DiCello said Burch put his knee on Tyson’s back while he was being handcuffed.

In the video, you can hear Tyson repeatedly tell officers he couldn’t breathe before he died.

Today, DiCello said it is up to the judge whether the two officers appear in person and that he is trying to explain the court process to the family as best he can.

“They respect the court process and the judge’s authority to make these decisions, but they are concerned that officers may appear to be giving them special treatment. So who is this treatment coming from? I’m not saying it came from the judge, but I’m saying that’s what the family thinks and sees,” DiCello said.

On Monday, several dozen Canton officers went to court for the officers’ bail hearing in support of the defendants.

Dozens of Canton officers attended the bond hearing.

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Most of the officers sat behind the Tyson family or in the overflow room.

Schoenegge and Burch are scheduled for another court date later this month.