Daniel Pantaleo Fired From NYPD Five Years After Killing Eric Garner

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Pantaleo managed to avoid federal charges for Garner's death last month following a five-year investigation by the Justice Department.

Five years after he was caught on video killing Eric Garner, Daniel Pantaleo has finally been fired by the NYPD.

READ: NYPD Lieutenant Texted Officer “Not A Big Deal” After Learning Of Eric Garner’s Death

A senior law-enforcement official told The Daily Beast that New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill will announce on Monday Pantaleo's firing. O'Neill Terminated the 43-year-old cop after it was determined he violated department policy by restraining Garner with a prohibited chokehold in 2014.

Pantaleo denied that he used a chokehold, and claimed to have used a legal move called the “seatbelt” on Garner. However, even a medical examiner testfied that Pantaleo’s alleged chokehold caused an asthma attack and was “part of the lethal cascade of events.”

As The Daily Beast also notes, Pantaleo had not faced official sanction for his actions until now, only being placed on desk duty.

"In this case, the unintended consequence of Mr. Garner's death must have a consequence of its own," O'Neill said while announcing Pantaleo's firing. "Therefore, I agree with the deputy commissioner of trials, legal findings and recommendations, it is clear that Daniel Pantaleo can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer."

Pantaleo managed to avoid federal charges for Garner's death last month following a five-year investigation by the Justice Department.

U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue said there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pantaleo acted “willfully” in violation of the federal criminal civil rights act.

“There is nothing in the video to suggest that Officer Pantaleo intended or attempted to place Mr. Garner in a chokehold,” Donoghue said.

Source: The Daily Beast