The officers under investigation over the death of Eric Garner could face criminal charges after the Justice Department replaced the New York officials and lawyers investigating the case with a team from outside the city. A group of five NYPD officers stopped Garner, a father of six, for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island on July 17, 2014. The New York City Medical Examiner ruled that Mr Garner’s death was a homicide but a jury in Staten Island decided not to indict Pantaleo, the officer who killed Garner. An investigation into whether the officers involved in the fatal encounter violated Mr Garner’s civil rights has been stalled by federal prosecutors and the FBI opposing bringing charges. Anonymous federal officials told the paper that the investigation has now been reorganized by the Justice Department, with FBI agents and officials from New York replaced by outsiders. Posted By Persist
