Federal Grand Jury Examines Death of Eric Garner

[_MissTish]

Federal grand jury hearing evidence in NYC police killing of Eric Garner: source


NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal grand jury in New York has begun hearing evidence in the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man whose chokehold death at the hands of a white police officer sparked widespread protests, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation of Garner's death in December 2014, after a grand jury in the borough of Staten Island declined to bring criminal charges against the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.

The decision led to rallies across the city, adding to nationwide tensions over the treatment of minorities by police.

The person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, said several police officers have been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.

The grand jury proceeding was first reported by The Daily News on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn declined to comment.

Pantaleo's lawyer, Stuart London, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Police questioned Garner on a Staten Island sidewalk on July 17, 2014, for allegedly selling loose cigarettes illegally.

The confrontation turned physical and a cellphone video captured the last moments of Garner's life, when he repeatedly said "I can't breathe" as Pantaleo held him in a chokehold.

Those words became a rallying cry for protesters across the United States.

Chokeholds have long been banned by New York City Police Department regulations.

The city agreed to pay Garner's family $5.9 million last July to settle a wrongful death claim.

Jonathan Moore, a lawyer for the family, said he was aware of reports that a grand jury had begun reviewing evidence in the case but could not confirm them.

"The Department of Justice has told us all along that they're taking the matter very seriously," he said. "We're hopeful that they'll do the right thing."

The department's internal probe of Pantaleo's actions has been on hold as federal prosecutors pursue their investigation.

Last month, the department said Sergeant Kizzy Adonis, who was supervising officers at the scene, was served with disciplinary charges in connection with the incident and placed on modified duty.


http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0VK1T7

[_Brackite]

Thanks for sharing. There was a thread about this incident over a year ago here.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36515

[_MissTish]

Thank you for that link. Interesting reading, as always.