Police Brutality: The Case of Eric Garner

The last words of now dead Eric Garner were “I can’t Breathe”. On July 17th 2014 Eric garner had an incident with the state police, NYPD, after allegedly selling an untaxed cigarette. When Eric garner did not comply with the orders given him, “Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a chokehold and brought him down. Once restrained, Garner remained face down on the sidewalk, surrounded by police who seemed inattentive to his condition.” “After police officers threw him to the ground and put him in a choke hold. Garner's last words, as recorded on a cellphone video, were: "I can't breathe." He repeated the phrase 11 times.” After his death, which the coroner had listed as homicide, no one was tried for his case. Although he died of compression to the neck, and compression to his chest. I am going to argue that police brutality is never the correct way of dealing with a problem. Police brutality is described as “the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians” The police have guidelines they shall follow when handling with civilians and other police situations, and it states that "deadly force may not be used unless it is necessary to prevent the escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others."