I don’t care if he told him that he was going to choke him beforehand. Big deal. If I tell someone that I am going to knock them unconscious before I actually do it, does it make it right because I warned them about it?
The cop gave his reason for doing what he did "so you don't OD". That will be his defense, and it is one worth hearing.
If the cop had instead said: "You f'n maggot, I am going to choke the livin S--- out of you, scumbag!(or other similar words)
Had that occurred, I would be in 100% agreement with you. As to now though, I would want an answer to my questions in Post 51 before I execute the cop (as many here are already willing to do, figuratively speaking).