Justice Department won’t charge NY police officer in 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner

Federal prosecutors will not be bringing any civil rights charges against the New York City police officer involved in the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner.

This decision to not bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo came a day before the statue of limitations was set to expire, on the fifth anniversary of the incident. The person who spoke to the Associated Press was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and remained anonymous.

A state grand jury refused to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo on criminal charges. Chokeholds are banned under police policy but Pantaleo indicated that he used a legal takedown maneuver called the “seatbelt”.

According to the medical examiner, a chokehold contributed to Garner’s death.

Officer were attempting to arrest and charge Garner for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes outside of a convenient store in Staten Island. Garner refused to be handcuffed, which resulted in the officers taking him down.

Garner’s dying words “I Can’t Breathe” soon became a rallying cry for police reforms activists.