Krauthammer: Decision not to indict NYPD officer 'totally incomprehensible'

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/03/krauthammer-decision-not-to-indict-nypd-officer-totally-incomprehensible/ ^

[TigerClaws]

Charles Krauthammer said Wednesday on "Special Report with Bret Baier" that a grand jury's decision not to indict a New York City police officer in the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died in July after the officer placed him in a chokehold, is "totally incomprehensible."

"It looks like they at least might have indicted him on something like involuntary manslaughter at the very least," Krauthammer, a syndicated columnist and Fox News contributor, said. "The guy was unarmed, and the crime was petty as they come. He was selling loose cigarettes, which in and of itself is almost absurd that somebody has to die over that."

[Yardstick]

Pretty offenses build into something bigger when they pile up.

[vette6387]

“I agree with C.K.”

Me too! This whole thing was completely avoidable. It’s like a lot of Cop caused deaths, the law protects them from prosecution, but this is still an unnecessary death over squat. And now the city will convulse with demonstrations that in all probability will result in more injuries, needless property damage to people who are not a party to the act and maybe even more deaths. Way to go NYPD, you “got your man” but you didn’t really win!

[Moonman62]

The policeman also did not have his other arm behind the neck of the suspect. A chokehold is used to cut off the blood flow to the brain, so the second arm is needed to apply pressure at the back of the neck. The hold the policeman used had an arm around the front of his neck and the other arm was not applied. His hands were interlocked.

And I notice the arm in front has the palm of the hand facing outward. Also, when the officer initially put the restraint on Garner his right arm was hooked under Garner's armpit.

[laplata]

I agree with Krauthammer.
—

Same here.

[FreeReign]

All he had to do was produce I.D. and take his citation. Instead he refused to cooperate at any stage in this process.

Is that true? Did Garner refuse to produce an ID?

We have folks here who assume that the cops were trying to arrest Garner without first trying to issue a citation.

[Clump]

We don’t give out non judicial death sentences for being disrespectful to the cops.
They should have thicker skin or get a different job.
I support Wilson. Brown put him in fear for his life by any standard, but that doesn’t mean I support every cop who kills somebody who isn’t “obeying”.
I guess concerns about a police state in this country are so last year around here.
The truth is that 0bama is militarizing our police at all levels of government.
That should be a concern to anyone who cares about freedom.
I wonder how patient they will be with those who don’t obey when the cops show up to make sure a minister performs a gay “marriage” or else.
Cops need to know we have their back when their actions are lawful and legitimate. But they also need to know that we aren’t going to knee jerk support every damned killing just by virtue of the fact that they were working and the decent was disrespectful or uncooperative.
IMHO

[DoughtyOne]

Say it over and over if it makes you feel better.

It’s not.

[DoughtyOne]

I said precisely what I meant to say. The hold used here was not the type that was banned.

[chris37]

The first picture shows the rear naked choke, a windpipe choke. Notice the position of the arm behind the head pushing the neck forward into the other arm thus constricting the windpipe. This is not what the cop did.

The second pic shows an anaconda choke, which constricts both arteries to the brain, but does not constrict the windpipe. One of the victim's own arms is used to press one side of his neck, while the forearm of the aggressor is used to press the other side.

In order to achieve the leverage needed to do this, the aggressor must first secure the hold, then rotate his body perpendicular to the victims body. Without that rotation, the hold does not work.

So the officer did not choke him in this manner either.

[DoughtyOne]

I believe you are trying to agree with my premise. It’s my take you get a hold on this guy that is solid so you can’t be shaken off. You use a short guy to do it, so that all his weight transfers to the perp’s upper body. He gets top-heavy and is easier to take down.

[Deagle]

Yes they do but I did not read here that he failed to show up in court to pay fines. That might be a reason to arrest him but so far, haven’t read anything about that. Even then, it is minor and did not require violent action by the police. Did not see a lot of conversation between the police and him in the video but of course might have missed that part.

To me, this is just another example of the police taking actions far exceeding the petty offense. In this instance, might makes right...

[laplata]

Yes it is.

To say that C K is an ally with Jackson and Sharpton because of this is ridiculous.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Thanks for the clarification.

[sagar]

“Actually, for the crime of “selling cigarettes” that is exactly what I would do, “Sir, please sign this citation. If you decide to plead guilty, you can just send in a check for $ XYZ.””

So, make up your own law as you go? The alleged crime, apparently, warranted an arrest, but there was an active resistance. The cop, rightly, subdued the perp, but the perp, because of his medical conditions, dies. Why should the cop be in trouble at all? Two dozen people in the grand jury thought the cop committed no crime, including no negligence. Case is closed. Bury and forget.

[dragnet2]

Yeah, but this guy had been cited for selling cigarettes multiple times before

OMG, you're kidding?

I bet he made dozens of dollars pushing tobacco...

I'm going to complain to the suits in government who ripoff the American people trillions in tax dollars. They wear suits and ties ya know!

We must stop this wide violent widespread criminal activity.

[FreeReign]

A chokehold is used to cut off the blood flow to the brain...

You are describing a submission hold. Choke holds asphyxiate.

[chris37]

My pleasure.

I just would like like to point out that by looking at the pictures, one can see how tight those chokes are, and how much strength is used in a choke that is intended to render the victim unconscious.

I don’t see that officer doing anything like that at all personally.

[DoughtyOne]

If you watch the video, listen to the perp complain about being harassed by the officers. “You’re always giving me a hard time!” (paraphrased)

I don’t see the officers trying to effect an arrest, before the back-up arrives.

I doubt this is an arrest offense. It would seem he could be sited and appear in court. However, if it’s already his ##?? citation, the stakes may be elevated, and he may know it.

I don’t think we can assume he was targeted for arrest. That’s all I’m saying at this point. It’s possible he was, but that may be because of his past infractions.

I may have stated he was not up for arrest too forcefully. I should not have said that emphatically.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, you can take that with you as your parting thought tonight, but in fact siding with black people who break the law and expect to get off scott-free is whose favorite cause celeb?

Ronald Reagan? Jessie Jackson? Al Sharpton?

Only one of these guys fails the test. Which one?

[basalt]

Police have the power to put you under arrest...you have to comply, its that simple....if you resist, then that’s on you...just follow the order, geez. Then, If something is done improperly, then you get a lawyer...