photo credit: a katz // Shutterstock

Eric Garner was killed 5 years ago on the streets of New York by police who attempted to arrest Garner for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island. When Eric refused to be handcuffed, police slammed him to the ground in a chokehold. Garner could be heard on video saying “I can’t breathe” 11 times before he went unconscious and soon passed away.

The Justice Department has just ruled that the NYPD officer who had Garner in a chokehold will not be facing federal charges. Chokeholds are banned from being used, but Officer Pantaleo says he did not have Eric in a chokehold. He claims it was a legal takedown maneuver called a “seatbelt.”

Though he is not facing charges, the officer could be dismissed from the department. In 2014, the officer was cleared of criminal conduct but the federal investigation is still open.

Written by Clarke Jones

Source: The Shaderoom