No, they had to kill him because he resisted to the point where the force applied was more than his medical condition could take. That can happen with any law on the books.
Don’t resist the police.
Get after politicians who want to pass nuisance laws because they can’t bear the heat of raising taxes.
The police are not at fault in this situation.
> The police are not at fault in this situation. <
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office report stated “Cause of Death: Compression of neck, compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police” and “Contributing Conditions: “Acute and chronic bronchial asthma; Obesity; Hypertensive cardiovascular disease”.
Garner’s poor physical condition contributed to his death. But the NYPD prohibits the use of chokeholds. And that’s exactly what a “compression of neck” is.
So at a minimum, the cops involved violated policy. They should be fired for that alone.
Should they also be subject to criminal prosecution? I’m unsure about that. But one thing’s for certain. No man, even a resisting obese man, should die for selling illegal cigarettes.
4 cops and a supervisor (a sgt I believe) on scene for a violation slightly more serious than spitting on the sidewalk. I suppose NYC has no real crime these guys could have been dealing with.
he "resisted" by simply moving his arm when 1 of the cops tried to take him by the wrist to cuff him, then he was jumped from behind. he presented no threat in any way, shape or form at the time he was jumped. and he was jumped.
this situation was escalated out of control by the amateurish and incompetent behavior of the cops here. the sgt should have been fired. he completely mis-handled this. another example of public-sector employees not being held accountable for actions that private-sector employees get fired for.