The Final Call

NYPD fires officer for death of Eric Garner

By AP | Last updated: Aug 20, 2019 - 1:59:30 PM

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New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo leaves his house, May 13, in Staten Island, N.Y. A long-delayed disciplinary trial began May 13 for Pantaleo, accused of using a banned chokehold in the July 2014 death of Eric Garner.

NEW YORK—After five years of investigations and protests, a New York City police officer has been fired for the chokehold death of an unarmed Black man.

Eric Garner, died in Staten Island, New York City, after Daniel Pantaleo, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, put him in a chokehold for 15 seconds while arresting him.

Police commissioner James O’Neill announced Aug. 19 that he had fired Officer Daniel Pantaleo based on a recent recommendation of a department disciplinary judge.

Mr. Pantaleo is the officer who was recorded on video wrestling Eric Garner to the ground in 2014, with his arm wrapped tightly around Mr. Garner’s neck.

Mr. Garner’s dying words of “I can’t breathe” became a flash point in a national debate over race and police use of force.

Mr. Pantaleo’s lawyer has said the officer used a reasonable amount of force and didn’t mean to hurt Mr. Garner.

A state grand jury declined to indict Mr. Pantaleo. Federal authorities announced in July that they wouldn’t bring civil rights charges. (AP)