Over 80 Protesters Arrested in NYC Over Ruling on Police Chokehold Death

A NYPD detective told Sputnik that more than 80 people were arrested after a wave of protests over the grand jury decision not to indict a law enforcer, who had chocked a black man to death in July.

WASHINGTON, December 4 (Sputnik) — The New York City Police arrested 83 people following massive protests over the grand jury decision not to charge a white police officer from the New York City Department (NYCD), who had chocked a black man to death, a NYPD detective told Sputnik on Thursday.

"The arrest number is 83," Detective Kelly Ann Ort said.

Garner, who was an asthmatic, died from suffocation in July after being put in a chokehold by police officer Daniel Pantaleo. A bystander recorded a video of police arresting Garner, who sold untaxed cigarettes, and Pantaleo choking the man to death, as Garner cried out "I can't breathe, I can't breathe". The video went viral on the Internet.

During Wednesday evening's protests in New York, crowds chanted "I can't breathe!" and "Hand up don't choke!" in protest against Garner's death and a similar grand jury ruling in Ferguson, Missouri, last week not to indict another white police officer, who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown.

NYPD Detective Ort did not provide any additional information on the ongoing or new protests that may take place in the New York City area.

"I can't even begin to speculate," she said.

Following the New York grand jury decision, US Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement on Wednesday that the Department of Justice would launch an "independent, thorough, fair and expeditious investigation" into Garner's death.

The protests over the death of Eric Garner follows the last week's grand jury ruling in Ferguson not to charge white police officer Darren Wilson for the deadly shooting of the black teenager, Michael Brown, in August. The killing and grand jury verdict in Ferguson ignited massive protests around the United States and renewed the debate over police brutality and racial profiling in the country.