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NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo waves at camera, moments after applying fatal choke hold on Eric Garner. |
By now, millions of people throughout the country, and the world, have seen the disturbing video, which shows NYPD cop Daniel Pantaleo placing a fatal choke hold on 43-year old Eric Garner, killing the Staten Island husband and father of six.
The video, which was recorded by 22-year old Ramsey Orta, Ramsey Orta, 22, begins with Pantaleo, an 8-year veteran of the NYPD, approaching Garner on a sidewalk, for what the NYPD says was suspicion that Garner was selling untaxed, loose cigarettes.
Basically losies.
In the video, Garner is heard telling officers, "Every time you see me, you want to mess with me. I'm tired of it. It stops today," Garner shouts. "I'm minding my business. Please just leave me alone."
That's when NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo comes up from behind Garner, an illegal, choke hold, prohibited by departmental policy.
As officer Pantaleo is cutting off Eric Garners breathing, at least three other NYPD cops grab Garner, bringing him down to the pavement.
It is at this point in the video, where Garner is seen gasping for air, and is heard telling officers, "I can't breathe."
Pantaleo ignores Garner.
A few seconds later, NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo is seen using his hands to push Eric Garner's face into the sidewalk, as Garner continues to reiterate his plea to the officers, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe."
As all this is happening, at least two NYPD cops are seen and heard telling the man video recording the entire incident to "Back up!"
A few more minutes pass, and more cops arrive, as onlookers watch from the store entrances.
But something's wrong.
Eric Garner is quiet.
The man who repeatedly pleaded with those whose job it is to protect and serve, telling them that he couldn't breathe, is now lying motionless on a dirty Staten Island New York sidewalk, as a gang of cops refuse to render any kind of medical assistance.
Even an EMT is seen refusing to render aid.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio seemed disgusted with Garner's murder.
"I watched it the same way a family member would watch it, and it was very sad to watch," de Blasio said, referring to the video.
As for NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, his gun and badge has been taken away, and he's been assigned to desk duty.
NYPD officer Pantaleo has been sued at least three times in just the past two years, for unlawful, racially motivated arrests on Staten Island.
Federal court records indicate that in the first lawsuit, which was settled this past January, officer Damiel Pantaleo was accused by two African-American men of arresting them without reason.
The men said officer Pantaleo subjected them to a "humiliating and unlawful strip search."
Both men said that the incident involved being ordered by Pantaleo to "pull their pants and underwear down, squat and cough."
The men, whose charges were later dismissed, were imprisoned overnight.
In the second lawsuit, NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo was accused of providing false information on a police report in order to support false charges against a man.
Those charges also were later dismissed.
Eric Garner's murder by the NYPD brings back horrible memories of the murder of Anthony Baez, a Bronx man killed by NYPD officer Francis Livoti, in 1994, after Livoti used a chokehold on him.
Baez' story is featured in an emotional documentary film "Every Mother's Son", which I highly recommend watching.
Perhaps equally disturbing to the fact that NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo applying a fatal chokehold to am innocent man, is what he did afterwards.
As an unconscious Eric Garner was being strapped down to an ambulance stretcher, officer Pantaleo showed absolutely no remorse, regret, or responsibility for his actions.
Instead, NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo smiled, and waved at the camera.
Click Play below to watch video of NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo putting fatal choke hold and murdering Eric Garner.
Click Play below to watch video of NYPD officers and EMT refusing to render aid to Eric Garner.
Look for NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo waving at the camera at approx. the 6:55 point of the video.
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