The cops involved in the fatal confrontation last month with Eric Garner were asked to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes in Staten Island, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday.
“We go where the concerns are expressed,” the NYPD’s top cop told WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer.
Garner died on July 17 after Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo appeared to put him in a chokehold — a tactic banned by the NYPD in 1993. The arrest was captured on startling video first posted by nydailynews.com.
The city medical examiner ruled that Garner died of a chokehold and compressions to the chest. The manner of death was homicide, the coroner’s office said.
Cops said Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, was selling untaxed cigarettes, also known as loosies.
Bratton said residents in Tompkinsville have called 911 and 311 to complain about the illegal cigarette sales. He said the bodega and store owners — who are paying taxes — lose money because of the sale of the untaxed loosies.
