Watch the NYPD Choke a Guy to Death Over Alleged Black Market Cigarettes

Eric Garner, 43, said he was
just breaking up a fight. New York Police Department officers said
he was selling untaxed cigarettes and tried to arrest him. When he
refused to cooperate, police jumped on the 400-pound Staten Island
man, put him in a chokehold, and forced him to the sidewalk. He
complained loudly that he couldn’t breathe as a pack of police kept
him held down. Then, according to the police, he went into cardiac
arrest and died at Richmond University Medical Center.

The arrest was caught on video and has been
posted by New York Daily News, who also spoke to
Garner’s wife. She and family members claimed he didn’t have any
cigarettes on him at the time of his arrest:

Officials confirmed that NYPD Internal Affairs officers launched
an investigation Thursday night.

Records show Garner was due in court in October on three Staten
Island cases, including charges of pot possession and possession or
selling untaxed cigarettes.

Esaw Garner said her husband was unable to work because he
suffered from a host of ailments, including chronic asthma,
diabetes and sleep apnea.

Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, 65, added, “I want justice.”

Watch the video
here.

Reason writers have repeatedly made note that skyrocketing
cigarette taxes have increased the size and scope of the black
market for the little cancer sticks. Read about it here.