It’s been four long years on the road to justice for Eric Garner, but on Thursday, an administrative judge set New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo’s trial date for May.
As NBC New York notes, Pantaleo is accused in the chokehold death of Garner, a restraint banned by the New York Police Department and a restraint that the medical examiner said contributed to the 43-year-old father’s July 2014 death.
Footage of Garner’s final moments shocked and inflamed the nation, after he was heard repeatedly pleading on camera “I can’t breathe,” even as Pantaleo kept his arm locked around his neck.
Ever since the 2014 encounter on Staten Island that left Garner dead, Pantaleo has been on paid desk duty. A grand jury had previously declined to indict Pantaleo over Garner’s death. And now it all comes down to this, with the Administrative Prosecution Unit of the Civilian Complaint Review Board set to prosecute the case against the cop.