But they didn’t pick a fight. They were enforcing the law. Gardner resisted arrest. Consider the scene in the movie Casino when the Feds were rounding up the mob members. The fat guy who kept the notebook with all of the details has an heart attack and drops dead. Did the Feds kill him? No. Did the stress of the event lead to his heart attack? Sure.
It appears in this case, though I am no expert, Gardner resisted, the police applied non-lethal force, however, due to preexisting conditions, he dropped dead. Is it a shame? Sure. Murder etc, nope.
Four cops on a misdemeanor arrest? Overenforcing would be more like it.
It appears in this case, though I am no expert, Gardner resisted, the police applied non-lethal force, however, due to preexisting conditions, he dropped dead.
Considering the outcome I'd say non-lethal force wasn't what was applied. But you're arguing that it was an unintended consequence. And apparently in the police world consequences don't have any costs.