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Killing of Eric Garner

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Killing of Eric Garner
DateJuly 17, 2014 (2014-07-17)
Time4:45 p.m.
Location202 Bay Street, Staten Island, New York City, New York, U.S.
CauseCompression of the neck
First reporterNY Daily News
Filmed byRamsey Orta[1]
ParticipantsNYPD officers Justin Damico & Daniel Pantaleo
Deaths1

Eric Garner (September 15, 1970 – July 17, 2014) was an American man from Staten Island, New York, who died on July 17, 2014, after a New York City Police Department officer, Daniel Pantaleo, put him in a chokehold which, on August 1, 2014 was determined by medical examiners as the primary cause of Eric Garner's fatal heart attack. Garner, a 6'3" and 350-pound asthmatic father of six, had been approached by police officer Justin Damico after Garner had broken up a local fight for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes.[2][3] The event caused public outcry[4] and rallies[5] with charges of police brutality and was broadcast nationally over various media networks.[6][7]

As a result of Garner's death, four EMTs and paramedics who responded to Garner after he was put in a chokehold were suspended without pay on July 21, 2014, and officers Justin Damico and Daniel Pantaleo were stripped of their service guns and badges and placed on desk duty.

On August 1, 2014, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office made an announcement that they ruled Garner's death a homicide.

Background

Eric Garner was born on September 15, 1970. He has been described by his friends as a "neighborhood peacemaker" and as a generous, congenial person.[8] He was father to six children.[3] Garner had been previously arrested for selling untaxed cigarettes.[9] Garner was a 6-foot-3-inches black male, and weighed 350 pounds. He was also asthmatic.[5]

Death

On July 17, 2014 at 4:45 p.m., Eric Garner was approached by a plainclothes police officer, Justin Damico, in front of a beauty supply store at 202 Bay Street. After telling the police officers, "I was just minding my own business. Every time you see me you want to mess with me. I’m tired of it. It stops today!"[10] Garner raised both his arms in the air and was then put in a chokehold from behind by officer Daniel Pantaleo, in order to be subdued. While Garner repeatedly stated he was not able to breathe, other officers struggled to bring him down onto the sidewalk and have him put his arms behind his back. The video shows officer Pantaleo using his hands to push Garner's face into the sidewalk. He died a few minutes later.[10][11][12]

Video showed police waiting seven minutes before giving Garner CPR.[5][13] Use of the chokehold has been prohibited by New York Police Department policy since 1993.[14]

Garner's death was recorded by Ramsey Orta, a friend of Garner's.[1]

Investigation

The officer who grabbed Garner by the neck, Daniel Pantaleo,[7] and officer Justin Damico were both put on desk duty and stripped of their service handguns and badges.[15] Four of the EMTs and paramedics who responded to Garner after he was put in a chokehold were suspended without pay on July 21,[7] while the hospital they worked at, Richmond University Medical Center, conducted its own investigation into the incident.[16]

Garner's death was found by the New York City Medical Examiner's Office to be a result of compression to the neck, compression to the body, and prone positioning, along with with asthma, heart disease and obesity as contributing factors.[17] On August 1, the medical examiner's spokeswoman, Julie Bolcer, announced that Garner's death has been ruled a homicide.[11][18]

As of August 1, 2014, the Richmond County District Attorney's office is in the process of deciding whether to empanel a grand jury and charge the officers involved in the death of Garner.[11]

Reactions

Public reaction

July 19, 2014 protest in Staten Island.

Reverend Al Sharpton organized a peaceful protest in Staten Island on the afternoon of July 19, and condemned the police's use of the chokehold on Garner, saying that "there is no justification" for it.[19]

On July 29, 2014, a protest was held in Times Square, organized by WalkRunFly Productions and poet Daniel J. Watts. The protest was in the form of poetry and many Broadway entertainers participated in the event.[20]

Reactions from politicians

New York Police Department

As a result of Eric Garner's death, Police Commissioner William Bratton ordered an extensive review of the NYPD's training procedures after Garner's death, specifically focusing on the appropriate amount of force that can be used while detaining a suspect.[12]

Funeral

A funeral was held for Garner on July 23, 2014, at Bethel Baptist Church in Brooklyn. At the funeral, Reverend Al Sharpton gave a speech calling for harsher punitive measures to be taken against the officers responsible for putting Garner in the chokehold.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b "Staten Island man dies after NYPD cop puts him in chokehold — SEE THE VIDEO". New York Daily News. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. ^ On Subway, Flying Feet Can Lead to Handcuffs. Matt Flegenheimer and J. David Goodman. The New York Times. July 28, 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b GRAPHIC WARNING: Two cops pulled off streets, Staten Island DA looking into death of dad of six after NYPD cop put him in chokehold during sidewalk takedown — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Officers Daniel Pantaleo and Justin Damico were both put on desk duty a day after the death of Eric Garner. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and Mayor de Blasio, who has postponed his Italian vacation, promised a full investigation at a City Hall news conference. Annie Karni, Rocco Parascandola, Larry Mcshane. New York Daily News. July 18, 2014.
  4. ^ "When does your morality kick in?": Al Sharpton demands justice in defiant speech against NYPD at funeral of father who died after officer put him choke hold. Associated Press Reporter. Mail Online. 23 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c New video purports to show aftermath of the chokehold that led to Eric Garner’s death. Niraj Chokshi. The Washington Post. July 19, 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  6. ^ Commissioner Bratton Expects Lawsuits To Be Filed In Wake Of Eric Garner’s Death. CBS. July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Behind the Video of Eric Garner’s Deadly Confrontation With New York Police. Josh Sanburn. TIME. July 22, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ Blidner, Rachelle (21 July 2014). "Friends: Man in NYC chokehold case 'gentle giant'". Seattle PI. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  9. ^ DeNinno, Nadine. "Eric Garner Died After NYPD Put Him In A Chokehold, Slammed His Head On Ground During Arrest [VIDEO]". International Business Times. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  10. ^ a b NYPD Strips Badge, Gun From Cop Involved In Fatal Chokehold, Gothamist, July 20, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Pearson, Jake. Official: Police chokehold caused NYC man's death, Associated Press, August 1, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Sanchez, Ray. Choke hold by cop killed NY man, medical examiner says, CNN, August 2, 2014.
  13. ^ Koeske, Zack (19 July 2014). cops_dug_through_garners_pocke.html "New video shows Eric Garner motionless on ground as police wait for EMS". SIlive.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ World News (19 July 2014). "NYPD Cop in Chokehold Death Loses Gun, Badge". ABC News. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  15. ^ NYPD Cop's Chokehold May Not Have Caused Serious Injury to Man's Throat. Josh Margolin, Ron Cliborne and Mark Crudele. ABC News. July 20, 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  16. ^ Annese, John M. (21 July 2014). "EMTs and paramedics who responded to Eric Garner have been suspended without pay by hospital". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  17. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Medical-examiner-says-chokehold-by-police-officer-5662953.php
  18. ^ Pearson, Jake (1 August 2014). "Official: Police chokehold caused NYC man's death". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  19. ^ Queally, James (19 July 2014). "Rev. Al Sharpton leads calls for justice in NYPD chokehold death". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  20. ^ I Can't Breathe, YouTube, WalkRunFly Productions, July 29, 2014.
  21. ^ Jonsson, Patrik (19 July 2014). "How minor crime questioning led to chokehold death of Eric Garner". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  22. ^ Barrett, Devlin (25 July 2014). "Eric Holder: Justice Department 'Closely Monitoring' Chokehold Probe". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  23. ^ "Sharpton To Officers In Eric Garner Case: 'When Does Your Morality Kick In?'". CBS New York. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
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