During today’s first round of testimony in the disciplinary trial of P.O. Daniel Pantaleo, the CCRB’s star witness in the case — Ramsey Orta, who recorded cellphone video of Eric Garner’s arrest — agreed with Pantaleo’s attorney that Pantaleo’s arm was not in contact with Garner’s neck when Garner first began to complain of trouble breathing.
This important testimony occurred while Pantaleo’s attorneys conducted a second-by-second review of Orta’s video of the arrest. A breakdown of key points in the video, beginning at the moment Pantaleo first makes physical contact with Garner, is provided below.
PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said:
“This trial must be an opportunity for the facts to speak for themselves. Today, we saw that a careful review of the video of Eric Garner’s arrest will sweep away five years’ worth of rhetoric and misinformation. P.O. Pantaleo did not use a chokehold and did not obstruct Mr. Garner’s breathing. We hope that the remainder of the trial continues in this vein, with a focus on the evidence in the court room, not the noise in the street. If it does, P.O. Pantaleo will be cleared of all charges.”
Timeline of Arrest Video
Start – P.O. Pantaleo first approaches Eric Garner to place him under arrest.
2 seconds – Pantaleo’s right hand holds Garner’s right wrist.
4 seconds – Pantaleo places his right arm under Garner’s right armpit and his left arm over Garner’s left shoulder in an NYPD-sanctioned “seatbelt takedown” maneuver.
5 seconds – Pantaleo leans Garner backward in an attempt to bring him to the ground.
7 seconds – Pantaleo and Garner fall backwards together into the plate glass window of a store, which visibly begins to buckle under their weight.
10 seconds – Garner goes to the ground on his hands and knees. Pantaleo is lifted into the air on Garner’s back, with both feet off the ground.
14 seconds – Garner rolls to his right side. Pantaleo’s left arm is around Garner’s shoulder/neck area. Pantaleo’s right arm remains loose on the ground.
19 seconds – Garner rolls left onto his stomach. Pantaleo’s right hand is holding Garner’s right wrist
20 seconds – Pantaleo places his hands on Garner’s head. Garner says the words “I can’t breathe” for the first time.
22 seconds – Garner continues to complain of breathing difficulty while Pantaleo holds his head. His nose and mouth are not obstructed.
During today’s first round of testimony in the disciplinary trial of P.O. Daniel Pantaleo, the CCRB’s star witness in the case — Ramsey Orta, who recorded cellphone video of Eric Garner’s arrest — agreed with Pantaleo’s attorney that Pantaleo’s arm was not in contact with Garner’s neck when Garner first began to complain of trouble breathing.
This important testimony occurred while Pantaleo’s attorneys conducted a second-by-second review of Orta’s video of the arrest. A breakdown of key points in the video, beginning at the moment Pantaleo first makes physical contact with Garner, is provided below.
PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said:
“This trial must be an opportunity for the facts to speak for themselves. Today, we saw that a careful review of the video of Eric Garner’s arrest will sweep away five years’ worth of rhetoric and misinformation. P.O. Pantaleo did not use a chokehold and did not obstruct Mr. Garner’s breathing. We hope that the remainder of the trial continues in this vein, with a focus on the evidence in the court room, not the noise in the street. If it does, P.O. Pantaleo will be cleared of all charges.”
Start – P.O. Pantaleo first approaches Eric Garner to place him under arrest.
2 seconds – Pantaleo’s right hand holds Garner’s right wrist.
4 seconds – Pantaleo places his right arm under Garner’s right armpit and his left arm over Garner’s left shoulder in an NYPD-sanctioned “seatbelt takedown” maneuver.
5 seconds – Pantaleo leans Garner backward in an attempt to bring him to the ground.
7 seconds – Pantaleo and Garner fall backwards together into the plate glass window of a store, which visibly begins to buckle under their weight.
10 seconds – Garner goes to the ground on his hands and knees. Pantaleo is lifted into the air on Garner’s back, with both feet off the ground.
14 seconds – Garner rolls to his right side. Pantaleo’s left arm is around Garner’s shoulder/neck area. Pantaleo’s right arm remains loose on the ground.
19 seconds – Garner rolls left onto his stomach. Pantaleo’s right hand is holding Garner’s right wrist
20 seconds – Pantaleo places his hands on Garner’s head. Garner says the words “I can’t breathe” for the first time.
22 seconds – Garner continues to complain of breathing difficulty while Pantaleo holds his head. His nose and mouth are not obstructed.