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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: Walter “Lamar” Scott

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

April 4, 2015

Location:

North Charleston, South Carolina


What happened:

Walter Lamar Scott was murdered on on April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, South Carolina, following a daytime traffic stop for a non-functioning brake light. North Charleston Patrolman, Michael Slager was arrested and charged with murder after shooting unarmed “Walter Lamar” Scott man in the back. Slager was only charged with murder after a video surfaced which showed him shooting Scott from behind while Scott was fleeing, and which contradicted his police report. Slager claimed he was pursuing Scott for driving with a broken brake light. Many critics also called for the prosecution of Clarence Habersham, the second officer seen in the video, alleging an attempted cover-up and questioning “whether Habersham omitted significant information from his report.” Slager was named in a police complaint in 2013 for allegedly using a Taser on a man without cause. Slager was cleared by the police department over the incident while the victim and several witnesses said they were not interviewed. Following the Scott killing, North Charleston police stated they would re-review the 2013 complaint. Slager was named in a second tasing-without-cause complaint following an August 2014 police stop. A complaint filed in January 2015 resulted in Slager being cited for failing to file a report.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

In June 2015, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Slager on a charge of murder. He was released on bond in January 2016. In late 2016, a five-week, state murder trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. In May 2016, Slager was indicted on federal charges including violation of Scott’s civil rights and obstruction of justice. On May 2, 2017, in a plea agreement, Slager pled guilty to federal charges of civil rights violations. In return for his guilty plea, murder charges from the state were dropped. The guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In an extremely rare turn of justice for victims of unarmed police shootings, Michael Slager was given a 20 year sentence on Thursday December 7, 2017, for second degree murder and obstruction of justice. Officials in North Charleston, S.C., reached a $6.5 million settlement with the family of Walter Scott. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/08/police-sued-for-using-stun-gun-on-man-after-smashing-car-window https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/michael-slager-sentencing/index.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/10/08/north-charleston-reaches-6-5-million-settlement-with-walter-scotts-family/?utm_term=.539960f93183


Walter Lamar Scott was a 50 year old African American man. He was born February 9, 1965.

He worked as a forklift operator, studying massage therapy. Scott previously served two years in the U.S. Coast Guard before being given a general discharge in 1986 for a drug-related incident.

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.

Victim: Trayvon Martin

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

February 26, 2012

Location:


What happened:

After purchasing a bag of Skittles and a can of Arizona iced tea from a 7-Eleven in Sanford, Florida, Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17 year old, African American High School Student walked home to the residence of his Father’s fiance, in Sanford, Florida, where he was residing at that time. George Zimmerman dialed 911 telling a dispatcher he saw “a real suspicious guy” in his neighborhood. He added, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining, and he’s just walking around.” The dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following the person. He replied, “Yes.” The dispatcher responded, “OK. We don’t need you to do that.” but zimmeran followed anyway. Zimmerman later attempted to confront Trayvon and after a scuffle used his 9mm semiautomatic hand gun to shoot and kill Trayvon. Trayvon Martin was survived by his mother, Sybrina Fulton, Tracy Martin (father), and Jaharvis Fulton (brother).


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

Zimmerman faced second-degree murder charges in the death of Martin. Defended by Attorneys Mark O’Mara, Don West, and Lorna Truett, George Zimmerman received a ‘not guilty’ verdict on July 13, 2013, in Sanford, Florida. A jury of 6 women found him not guilty in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. The parents of Trayvon Martin, settled a wrongful-death lawsuit against the homeowners’ association in the gated community where he was killed. At the time of the shooting, Mr. Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch captain at the development, the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Fla., where he lived with his wife. A homeowners’ association newsletter sent to residents in February 2012, the same month as the shooting, cited Mr. Zimmerman as the person to contact for neighborhood watch issues. The newsletter suggested that if concerns arose, they first call the police and then alert Mr. Zimmerman. The parents later sued Zimmerman and settled for an undisclosed amount.


Trayvon Martinn was a 17 year old African American High School Student.

Victim: Corey Kanosh

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2012-10-15

Location:

Utah Dessert


What happened:

Corey Kanosh, an unarmed 35-year-old Paiute man, died in the Utah desert on Oct. 15, 2012. Police, believing the car in which he was a passenger to be stolen, chased it to a stop. After Corey got out of the car, police shot him and left him overnight. In the morning, he was pronounced dead.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:


Corey Kanosh was a 35 year old Indigenous/ Native American male.

Victim: Mah-hi-vist Goodblanket

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2013-12-21

Location:

Clinton, Oklahoma


What happened:

Mah-hi-vist (Red Bird) Goodblanket, 18, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, was Tasered twice and shot seven times with one of those shots being to the back of his head, in his Clinton, Oklahoma, home by police on Dec. 21, 2013. His mother had called the police to request help keeping her son safe during a mental health episode. After officers arrived, never assessing the situation, entered the home and killed Mah-hi-vist!
Mah-hi-vist had been diagnosed with a mental health disability as a youth.

 


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

The family continues to seek justice for Mah-hi-vist and realize that what happened to him in 2013, has continued to happen at record numbers across the Country.

Sources:


Mah-hi-vist (Red Bird) Goodblanket, was an 18 year old indigenous/ Native American male.

Victim: Daniel Covarrubias

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:


Location:


What happened:

On April 21, 2015, Lakewood, Washington, police shot and killed 37-year-old Daniel Covarrubias, when they mistook his cell phone for a gun. The shooting of the Suquamish man, a descendant of Chief Seattle, was later ruled justified. His family is calling for an independent investigation.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:


Daniel Covarrubias was a 37 year old Indigenous/ Native American male.

Victim: Timothy Thomas

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2001-04-07

Location:

Cincinnati, Ohio 


What happened:

In April of 2001, Thomas- an unarmed black 19-year-old- was shot by a white officer, Stephen Roach, in Cincinnati. Was wanted for traffic violations and was fleeing.  Mr. Thomas had been wanted on 14 warrants, including traffic charges and fleeing the police. On the night of the shooting, he ran from three other officers and scaled fences in a neighborhood plagued by drugs and violence according to Roach’s lawyer.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

The officer, Stephen Roach, had been charged with negligent homicide and obstructing official business in the death of Timothy Thomas, 19, whom he shot in a dark alley early on April 7. Judge Ralph E. Winkler of Hamilton County Municipal Court pronounced sentence after hearing the trial without a jury. Officer Roach did not testify. ”This shooting was a split-second reaction to a very dangerous situation created by Timothy Thomas,” Judge Winkler said. ”Police Officer Roach’s action was reasonable.” The judge said Officer Roach had an unblemished record, while Mr. Thomas had been wanted on a variety of warrants and did not respond to an order to show his hands. Roach was acquitted. Eight hundred arrests were made in the ensuing riots.

The City of Cincinnati, Fraternal Order of Police and Black United Front were among groups in 2002 that signed the Collaborative Agreement, which brought sweeping reforms to the police department. It would change how it tracked and recorded its use of force, modify foot-pursuit policies and add computers to cruisers. The emphasis would now be community-oriented policing.

Sources:


Timothy Thomas was an unarmed black 19-year-old male.