With Ferguson as a backdrop, the case of Daniel Pantaleo — the white New York police officer who killed black suspect Eric Garner with a chokehold — heads to the grand jury on Wednesday.
The case stems from July, when Mr. Pantaleo put the 350-pound asthmatic Garner, then 43, in a chokehold on the sidewalks of Staten Island, after detaining him on suspicions of illegal vending. Garner cried out, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” and shortly after collapsed on the road, unconscious, CNN reported.
An ambulance arrived and transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Garner had a lengthy criminal record that included 30 prior arrests — at least one of which was for illegal vending, just a couple months prior to his death.
He also reportedly put his hands in the air while Mr. Pantaleo was detaining him in a chokehold — an act that runs afoul with New York Police Department policy, CNN reported.
Some are drawing parallels between the Staten Island case and the Aug. 9 shooting death by white Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson of black teen Michael Brown. But many differences exist.
Mr. Wilson’s police record was clear; Mr. Pantaleo has faced two prior lawsuits for false arrest, unlawful imprisonment, civil rights violations and other charges. One of those suits was dismissed while the other is still pending. Moreover, Mr Wilson was accused of firing off his weapon while Brown went in defensive mode, with his hands up — but that witness-fueled claim wasn’t born out by forensics. In the Staten Island case, a cell phone video showed that Garner actually had his back to Mr. Pantaleo, and the police officer jumped him from behind to tackle him, CNN said.
Mr. Pantaleo was put on modified assignment and stripped of his badge and gun, pending an investigation, shortly after the shooting.
The grand jury is largely expected to announce whether or not to indict Mr. Pantaleo on charges related to Garner’s death before the end of the week, CNN said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.