I'm not one for forums mostly. However wanted to clear something up in response to the post by mr universe. Using a hold to compress blood vessels is actually more dangerous then restricting the airway. The effect of cutting oxygen to the brain is much faster that way. It's for this reason the majority of police forces ban their officers from using any type of choke hold.
I have always taken law enforcement side in all previous debates but AJ makes a good point. They are not trained to choke and with other officers there a choke was not necessary.. Using illegal move should have gotten him indicted, but I don't know about a conviction because they may have been other circumstances. Also for all of you saying he wouldn't be able to yell if being choked that's simple not true.. If you have the grip you are restricting the airways.. A trained person can "apply" the choke and have you unconscious in seconds.. But having the hold on without "applying" the choke can still make someone go unconscious but it will take a few minutes, because the airways are only partially restricted
Also, there is a distinct difference in the word "illegal" and "New York Police Department Banned". Just because a restraint tactic is banned by a police department does not make it illegal. There is no "strangleholds are illegal" statute in New York City.
Ok let's use the word "banned." But here is my question... If you do something, on your job, that is banned, against your training, and results in a death.. Should you be held liable for that death?
On the NYPD's defense, choke holds are NOT against the law in NY, they are against NYPD policy. However the reason the man was being arrested is completely crazy. He was selling cigarettes bought out of state. NY cig taxes are around 7-8 dollars a pack. Just the tax, but in the same state smoking marajuana is an offense that is simply ticketed and the suspect is summoned to court. It was a backward law that killed this man, not the NYPD.
I don't think the law he was breaking had anything to do with.. He wasn't choke for selling cigarettes, he was choked for resisting arrest.