Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD Strips Badge, Gun From Cop Involved In Fatal Chokehold
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 20, 2014
Modified Jul 20, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
View all 11
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 20, 2014
Modified Jul 20, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Amid cries for justice after a Staten Island man died during an arrest, the New York City Police Department announced that one of the police officers involved in the arrest had his gun and badge removed.
The police issued a statement, "Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo has been place on Modified Assignment pending further investigation into the July 17, 2014 incident involving Eric Garner in the 120 Precinct." Previously, it was announced that Pantaleo, an eight-year veteran, would be placed on desk duty along with Police Officer Justin Damico, a four-year veteran.
Police claim that Eric Garner, 43, was selling untaxed cigarettes and that the officers attempted to handcuff him around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday outside 202 Bay Street in Tompkinsville. A disturbing video obtained by the Daily News shows Garner arguing with the police: "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!" When a number of cops try to subdue him, Garner, who weighed 350 pounds, is seen swatting their hands away and saying, "Don’t touch me, please."
As Pantaleo puts him in a chokehold, other officers struggle to pull him to the ground and get his arms behind his back. Garner, an asthmatic, can be heard repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe." The NYPD says he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at Richmond University Medical Center.
Pantaleo was the officer who placed Garner in the chokehold. Sources tell the Post and Daily News that the Medical Examiner has found no signs of damage to Garner's neck bones or windpipe.
It's unclear whether Panataleo will be criminally charged, and Eugene O'Donnell, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Post, "If you’re the defense counsel in this case, this is very good news, because it’s consistent with what appears to be the case — that they didn’t mean to hurt him"
However, the News reports, "Another source said the likely cause of death will be a heart attack, although other actions — including the illegal takedown of Garner — 'will probably go down as contributing factors.'"
Chokeholds are prohibited by the NYPD. Another video shows that Garner was left handcuffed for minutes while apparently not breathing:
At a rally at his National Action Network yesterday, the Rev. Al Sharpton said, "Let me tell you. This is going to be a real test to see where policies are in the city now, and whether the change that we feel has occurred, has occurred." Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, was so overcome by emotion that she had to be carried off the stage.
Later, Sharpton joined Garner's relatives and others for a march in Staten Island. According to Business Insider, they shouted, "How do you spell racist? N-Y-P-D!" "No justice, no peace! No racist police!" and "N-Y-P-D! No more killing!"
Sharpton also said, '"If you say we just out here making trouble, just go to the tape! My message to the D.A. and the federal authorities is: Go to the tape! ... The tape speaks for itself! The whole world is looking at Staten Island!"
Tagged
al sharpton
arrest death
daniel pantaleo
eric garner
nypd
police
staten island
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .