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He was obese and had circulatory problems. This was an accidental death. He is responsible for his death.

Let that be a warning to all those with heath issues. Ya better obey.

That includes all the people on oxygen, in wheel chairs and those walkers, which can be easily used as weapons. No excuses, do as you're instructed.

Well, I have health issues.

I suffered a heart attack at 39, I take blood pressure medicine, statins, and I’m diabetic.

I wouldn’t be selling loose cigarettes on the street corner for one.

And for two, if a police officer told me that I’m under arrest, I’d turn around, place my hands behind my back in order to facilitate his or her cuffing me, and I’d be arrested.

I don’t try to fight police, I’m not an idiot.

As we can see, the amount of police holster-sniffing and bootlicking is getting a bit much in this thread. Good grief, the man was clearly non-violent and this was simple tax-evasion.

Just by looking at Eric Garner they could tell he was not going to sprint down the street and vault over an 8-foot fence to escape. My bet is that he needed to be directed that this was not negotiable, others had summoned police, he had received multiple warnings, and that he was now going to be placed into handcuffs, arrested, put into a police cruiser, and taken to the police station for booking.

As to whether he needed air to speak...he very well could have been using his last oxygen with that plea. It is not like he could grasp his throat in the Official Can't Breath classic choking sign. Or perhaps he should have stated:

"My uptake of oxygen is extremely compromised and I am feeling nauseated and in great bodily distress. Emergency medical attention is needed. My name is Eric Garner for when you are summoning paramedics now. Please use your police training to act accordingly at this time, thank you."

Police have a hard job and do remarkably good work MOST of the time. On this occasion, they bobbled things with absolutely tragic results.