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Victim: Eric Garner

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-07-17

Location:

Staten Island, New York


What happened:

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island, New York City, after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Pantaleo put him in a headlock or chokehold for about 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. Placing suspects in a chokehold is a tactic banned by the department since 1993. Officer Pantaleo denied choking Garner, but the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office report stated “Cause of Death: Compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police” and “Contributing Conditions: Acute and chronic bronchial asthma; Obesity; Hypertensive cardiovascular disease”. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide–“a death caused by the intentional actions of another person or persons, which is not necessarily an intentional death or a criminal death.” 

NYPD officers approached Garner on suspicion of selling single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps. After Garner told the police that he was tired of being harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes, the officers went to arrest Garner. When officer Daniel Pantaleo tried to take Garner’s wrist behind his back, Garner pulled his arms away. Pantaleo then put his arm around Garner’s neck and took him down onto the ground. After Pantaleo removed his arm from Garner’s neck, he pushed the side of Garner’s face into the ground while four officers moved to restrain Garner, who repeated “I can’t breathe” eleven times while lying face down on the sidewalk. After Garner lost consciousness, officers turned him onto his side to ease his breathing. Garner remained lying on the sidewalk for seven minutes while the officers waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The officers and emergency medical technicians did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Garner at the scene; according to a spokesman for the PBA, this was because they believed that Garner was breathing and that it would be improper to perform CPR on someone who was still breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital approximately one hour later.


About The Perpetrator:

Daniel Pantaleo is a White male.

At the time of Eric Garner’s death, Pantaleo was 29 years of age, was living in Eltingville, Staten Island, and had been an NYC officer of 8 years.  Pantaleo was the subject of 2 civil rights lawsuits in 2013 where plaintiffs accused Pantaleo of falsely arresting them and abusing them.

 

In the first suit, two men, Darren Collins and Tommy Rice, claimed Pantaleo and other officers stopped and strip-searched them in broad daylight while they were driving. The officers handcuffed Collins and Rice and “Pantaleo and/or Conca pulled down the plaintiff’s pants and underwear, and touched and searched their genital areas, or stood by while this was done in their presence,” the lawsuit alleged. The plaintiffs allege that Pantaleo had falsely claimed that he saw crack and heroin in plain view, on the vehicle’s back seat, allowing the officers to arrest everyone in the car.  The two men each received $15,000 settlements from the city.

 

Pantaleo moved from his home after Garner’s death due to death threats.


About The Victim:

Eric Garner was an African American male and was 43 years of age at the time of his death. He was also asthmatic and a father of six.


Outcome:

On December 3, 2014, the Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo. On that day, the United States Department of Justice announced it would conduct an independent investigation. The event stirred public protests and rallies, with charges of police brutality made by protesters. By December 28, 2014, at least 50 demonstrations had been held nationwide specifically for Garner while hundreds of demonstrations against general police brutality counted Garner as a focal point.
On July 13, 2015, an out-of-court settlement was announced in which the City of New York would pay the Garner family $5.9 million.
Sources:
https://nypost.com/2014/07/18/man-dies-after-suffering-heart-attack-during-arrest/
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/funeral-today-eric-garner-article-1.1877381

EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS: The disturbing secret history of the NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner


Sources:

man Dies After Suffering Heart Attack During Arrest;  Relatives, Friends Say Goodbye To Eric Garner;  ; 

Officer Daniel Pantaleo

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-07-17

Location:

Staten Island, New York 


What happened:

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island, New York City, after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Pantaleo put him in a headlock or chokehold for about 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. Placing suspects in a chokehold is a tactic banned by the department since 1993. Officer Pantaleo denied choking Garner, but the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office report stated “Cause of Death: Compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police” and “Contributing Conditions: Acute and chronic bronchial asthma; Obesity; Hypertensive cardiovascular disease”. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide–“a death caused by the intentional actions of another person or persons, which is not necessarily an intentional death or a criminal death.” 

NYPD officers approached Garner on suspicion of selling single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps. After Garner told the police that he was tired of being harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes, the officers went to arrest Garner. When officer Daniel Pantaleo tried to take Garner’s wrist behind his back, Garner pulled his arms away. Pantaleo then put his arm around Garner’s neck and took him down onto the ground. After Pantaleo removed his arm from Garner’s neck, he pushed the side of Garner’s face into the ground while four officers moved to restrain Garner, who repeated “I can’t breathe” eleven times while lying face down on the sidewalk. After Garner lost consciousness, officers turned him onto his side to ease his breathing. Garner remained lying on the sidewalk for seven minutes while the officers waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The officers and emergency medical technicians did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Garner at the scene; according to a spokesman for the PBA, this was because they believed that Garner was breathing and that it would be improper to perform CPR on someone who was still breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital approximately one hour later.


About The Perpetrator:

Daniel Pantaleo is a White male.

At the time of Eric Garner’s death, Pantaleo was 29 years of age, was living in Eltingville, Staten Island, and had been an NYC officer of 8 years.  Pantaleo was the subject of 2 civil rights lawsuits in 2013 where plaintiffs accused Pantaleo of falsely arresting them and abusing them.

In the first suit, two men, Darren Collins and Tommy Rice, claimed Pantaleo and other officers stopped and strip-searched them in broad daylight while they were driving. The officers handcuffed Collins and Rice and “Pantaleo and/or Conca pulled down the plaintiff’s pants and underwear, and touched and searched their genital areas, or stood by while this was done in their presence,” the lawsuit alleged. The plaintiffs allege that Pantaleo had falsely claimed that he saw crack and heroin in plain view, on the vehicle’s back seat, allowing the officers to arrest everyone in the car.  The two men each received $15,000 settlements from the city.

Pantaleo moved from his home after Garner’s death due to death threats.


About The Victim:

Eric Garner was an African American male and was 43 years of age at the time of his death. He was also asthmatic and a father of six.


Outcome:

On December 3, 2014, the Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo. On that day, the United States Department of Justice announced it would conduct an independent investigation. The event stirred public protests and rallies, with charges of police brutality made by protesters. By December 28, 2014, at least 50 demonstrations had been held nationwide specifically for Garner while hundreds of demonstrations against general police brutality counted Garner as a focal point.

On July 13, 2015, an out-of-court settlement was announced in which the City of New York would pay the Garner family $5.9 million.

Sources:

  • https://nypost.com/2014/07/18/man-dies-after-suffering-heart-attack-during-arrest
  • http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/funeral-today-eric-garner-article-1.1877381
  • https://thinkprogress.org/daniel-pantaleo-records-75833e6168f3
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/14/nyregion/eric-garner-case-is-settled-by-new-york-city-for-5-9-million.html?smid=pl-share

Sources:

Man Dies After Suffering Heart Attack During Arrest;  Relatives, Friends Say Goodbye to Eric Garner;  The Disturbing Secret History of the NYPD Officer Who Killed Eric Garner;  Eric Garner Case is Settled by NY City for $5.9 Million; 

Victim: Sean Bell

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. On May 18, 2010, U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York lifted a stay on the civil lawsuit brought by Nicole Paultre Bell against the City of New York. On July 27, 2010, a settlement was reached. New York City agreed to pay Sean Bell’s family $3.25 million. Joseph Guzman, 34, who uses a cane and a leg brace and has four bullets lodged in his body was to receive $3 million, and Trent Benefield, 26, was to receive $900,000. The total amount of the settlement was $7.15 million. Paultre Bell said, “I believe the settlement is fair, but the most important thing is that our fight, my fight, doesn’t end here. No amount of money can provide closure.” New York City Corporation Counsel stated, “The city regrets the loss of life in this tragic case, and we share our deepest condolences with the Bell family.” The head of the New York City Detectives Endowment Association said he thought the settlement was “a joke”. “The detectives were exonerated … and now the taxpayer is on the hook for $7 million, and the attorneys are in line to get $2 million, without suffering a scratch.” Guzman said the settlement did not change the underlying reality that the lives of black and Hispanic men were not worth much in New York; he said that the incident was bound to be repeated

Sources:


Sean Bell was an African American male, 23 years of age, unarmed and murdered the night before his wedding.

Officer Michael Carey

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Officer Carey testified that he opened fire after he heard Isnora yell ‘Gun!’ and was cleared of all departmental charges. The only discipline that Officer Carey faced was from the department, which sought to try him on charges that he failed to comply with departmental guidelines in firing his gun. Detective Gescard Isnora was the only officer involved who was terminated outright with no pension or benefits. He was found to have violated department guidelines by firing his weapon while undercover. Sources say he works for the Detectives Endowment Association as a civilian and has tentative plans to sue the NYPD over the pension he was denied. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/nyregion/17grand.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/nyregion/27bell.html?em&ex=1209441600&en=ebc2b423bdbf4537&ei=5087


Officer Michael Carey is White.

Detective Marc Cooper

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Cooper fired five shots during the incident. Like most of the officers involved in the shooting, Cooper left the NYPD with his pension intact and will $55,000 a year pension and an annual $12,000 supplement.

Sources:


Marc Cooper is an African American male.

Detective Gescard Isnora

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Detective Gescard Isnora was the only officer involved who was terminated outright with no pension or benefits. He was found to have violated department guidelines by firing his weapon while undercover. Sources say he works for the Detectives Endowment Association as a civilian and has tentative plans to sue the NYPD over the pension he was denied.

Source:


Detective Gescard Isnora is an African American.

Detective Michael Oliver

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25, 2006

Location:


What happened:

Of the 50 shots fired by police at the unarmed groom-to-be and his pals in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006, Oliver fired 31, and even stopped to reload. Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Like most of the officers involved in the shooting, Oliver left the NYPD with his pension intact and will collect $40,000 a year starting in 2014 Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/nyregion/17grand.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/nyregion/27bell.html?em&ex=1209441600&en=ebc2b423bdbf4537&ei=5087


Michael Oliver is a white male.

He joined the department 12 years prior to the murder of Sean Bell, and had more than 600 arrests to his name, and multiple arrests involving guns, which he claims underscored a history of restraint with his own firearm. This didn’t matter in Sean Bell’s case where Oliver being charged with manslaughter, assault, and reckless endangerment, was found to have fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload.

Officer Justin D’Amico

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-07-17

Location:

Staten Island, New York

 


What happened:

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island, New York City, after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Pantaleo put him in a headlock or chokehold for about 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. Placing suspects in a chokehold is a tactic banned by the department since 1993. Officer Pantaleo denied choking Garner, but the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office report stated “Cause of Death: Compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police” and “Contributing Conditions: Acute and chronic bronchial asthma; Obesity; Hypertensive cardiovascular disease”. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide–“a death caused by the intentional actions of another person or persons, which is not necessarily an intentional death or a criminal death.”

NYPD officers approached Garner on suspicion of selling single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps. After Garner told the police that he was tired of being harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes, the officers went to arrest Garner. When officer Daniel Pantaleo tried to take Garner’s wrist behind his back, Garner pulled his arms away. Pantaleo then put his arm around Garner’s neck and took him down onto the ground. After Pantaleo removed his arm from Garner’s neck, he pushed the side of Garner’s face into the ground while four officers moved to restrain Garner, who repeated “I can’t breathe” eleven times while lying facedown on the sidewalk. After Garner lost consciousness, officers turned him onto his side to ease his breathing. Garner remained lying on the sidewalk for seven minutes while the officers waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The officers and emergency medical technicians did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Garner at the scene; according to a spokesman for the PBA, this was because they believed that Garner was breathing and that it would be improper to perform CPR on someone who was still breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital approximately one hour later.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

After the shooting, Justin D’Amico, was assigned to desk work, but did not have his gun and badge taken away. D’Amico also testified before the panel and was given immunity from prosecution. 

On December 3, 2014, the Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo. On that day, the United States Department of Justice announced it would conduct an independent investigation. The event stirred public protests and rallies, with charges of police brutality made by protesters. By December 28, 2014, at least 50 demonstrations had been held nationwide specifically for Garner while hundreds of demonstrations against general police brutality counted Garner as a focal point.

On July 13, 2015, an out-of-court settlement was announced in which the City of New York would pay the Garner family $5.9 million.

Sources:


Officer Justin D’Amico is a white male. He wason the force four years prior to the murder of Eric Garner.