Grand Jury Declines to Indict NYPD Officer in Eric Garner Chokehold Death: Sources

www.nbcnewyork.com ^ | Dec 3, 2014 • Updated at 2:28 PM EST | Andrew Siff and Jonathan Dienst

[dead]

A New York City grand jury has declined to indict an NYPD officer in the chokehold case of Eric Garner, the unarmed man who died while being arrested on Staten Island earlier this year.

In opting not to indict, the panel determined there was not probable cause that a crime was committed by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was seen on a widely watched amateur video showing him wrapping his arm around Garner's neck as Garner yelled, "I can't breathe!" during the summer altercation.

[Elsie]

and GONE!

[Rennes Templar]

You in Montana?

[Elsie]

. Some students may have witnessed this incident. Please let us know if your student needs support. Our counselors are available to talk with students if they need support after witnesses (sic) this frightening incident.

OMG!!!

They may be catatonic!

[Elsie]

That would be Jesus’ mom.

[Elsie]

(peaceful pro-life protest)

Good for you!

My respect has just racheted up a notch!

[Elsie]

Give it enough time and their city turns into a violent tax-encumbered police state.

Oh...

Wait...

[Elsie]

By choice, I live near the wilderness on the far side of a remote part of a small town in one of America’s least populated and geographically largest states.

Wells or Rachel??

and what happens in Vegas; stays in Vegas...

[Elsie]

although the residents had been asking the city for weeks to replace the bulb.

How many 'residents' does it take to replace a light bulb?

[Elsie]

That was my first guess; then I read his homepage.

[Red Badger]

Why riot where there ain’t GOOD stuff to steal?............Lower Manhattan gots real good stuff..........

[driftdiver]

Do you get paid for these threads too?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

That’s an interesting point about the Grand Jury. I was listening to KDKA on and off (weak reception) yesterday evening, while driving home, and the talk show host quoted some astonishing statistics regarding the success District Attorneys have in persuading Grand Juries to indict or not indict.) I don’t recall the exact numbers, but what it boils down to is that if the DA wants a case against a non-cop to go to trial, it almost always does. But in cases against police officers, the cases virtually never go to trial. You can call the Grand Jury a rubber stamp, or maintain that DA’s simply know how to manipulate Grand Juries — the results are the same either way. This brings up a strong suspicion of conflict of interest, as DA’s generally work very closely with police.

That is a HUGE problem with the process in cases like this (and even in Ferguson). Local prosecutors, who work with local cops on a day-to-day basis and depend on local cops as witnesses in nearly every case they bring, should not be in charge of determining whether and how to prosecute officers suspected of criminal misconduct. Even if the prosecutors act in a completely impartial manner, the appearance of impropriety is simply too great.

[livius]

I said they could probably have replaced the lightbulb themselves, although possibly not, because it may have been too high to reach without a long ladder or locked into a cage to protect it from being broken by people who wanted to use the stairwell for crime.

[machogirl]

He has little regard for the officers or parents. As one Denver News Reporter wrote, ‘the students were yelling “f*ck the police” as the police were making sure the students were safe on their field trip blocking city streets’.

[machogirl]

I’m sure many bring their life experiences into a Court setting. I didn’t hate lawyers as much until I went through family court, which was my first court experience first-hand. I had to suffer through the outright LIES of my ex-husband’s attorney which were even obvious to the Judge, but allowed in Court with no sanctions, nothing. To say that I was very disillusioned with the Legal system would be an understatement.

[machogirl]

He could have been and also had dreams of media grandeur.

[Theodore R.]

I haven’t followed the case, but I have been surprised at the two courageous grand juries in MO and NYC. Normally, I don’t trust juries of any kind.

[Theodore R.]

They’re just too far gone to turn back now.

So true; and that refers as well to those directing some 250 electoral votes.

[Moonman62]

You don’t think the officer caused his death? So you think that by strange coincidence had the cops not apprehended him he would have fallen down dead in the street all on his own?

...

He died because of his poor health and choosing to physically resist arrest. If someone gets drunk and slams their car into a tree, would you blame the car and the alcohol?

Without medical intervention, and willpower on his part, I don’t think Garner had long to live, regardless of the arrest.

[Moonman62]

Having said that, this is a PR nightmare for the NYPD.

...

With Emperor Obama in power, ignoring the law, ignoring the truth, and doing everything he can to increase racial tensions, it’s a nightmare for the rule of law everywhere.