Saiaana Sahadeo

December 10, 2014

4B
Defense for Eric Garner
On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was wrongfully killed by New York Police Officer, Dan
Pantaleo. Officer Pantaleo put Mr. Garner in chokehold while he was arresting him; when he was
in the chokehold Mr. Garner claimed that he couldnt breathe. I believe that Officer Pantaleo
should have loosened his grip on Mr. Garner because he couldnt breathe and Mr. Garner suffers
from asthma. Chokeholds may not be illegal, but Officer Garner broke NYPD protocol when he
put Mr. Garner in the chokehold. The coroner also ruled it as a homicide; the coroner wouldnt
rule it as a homicide if Officer Pantaleo didnt do anything wrong. The police could have put
handcuffs on Mr. Garner, but they were hesitant on doing so. Why were the police hesitant in
putting handcuffs on someone they were arresting? This means that they werent doing their job.
There should be an indictment because Officer Pantaleo caused the death of Eric Garner by
putting him in a chokehold and not listening to Eric Garner when he told the officer he couldnt
breathe.
Defense for Officer Pantaleo
Officer Pantaleo tried to arrest Eric Garner on July 14, 2014. Eric Garner was just
released from jail and Officer Pantaleo caught him selling illegal cigarettes to homeless people in
the area. Eric Garner denied any wrongdoing when the police confronted him. This turned into a
violent confrontation as Eric Garner resisted arrest. Eric Garner does have a record of mostly
nonviolent offenses. Even though Officer Pantaleo put Eric Garner in a chokehold, this is it not
illegal in the state of New York. Officer Pantaleo had to use force on Eric Garner otherwise Eric
Garner would have gotten away and there would have been one more criminal in Staten Island.
Officer Pantaleo didnt mean to kill Eric Garner, but Eric Garner became violent has he tried to

Saiaana Sahadeo
December 10, 2014
4B
resist arrest. I dont support an indictment because Officer Pantaleo didnt break the law and he
didnt intentionally kill Eric Garner.