Officer avoids charges in Eric Garner's death

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced they would not be pursuing civil rights charges against the white New York City police officer who used a chokehold that led to the death of Eric Garner in 2014. The officer, Daniel Pantaleo, was attempting to arrest Garner, a black man, on suspicion of selling cigarettes on a street corner when he used a banned chokehold as he and other officers wrestled Garner to the ground. In video that surfaced after the arrest, Garner can be heard saying "I can't breathe" 11 times while laying face down on the sidewalk. Pantaleo has remained with the department, but was moved to desk duty. Tuesday was the last opportunity for federal authorities to charge Pantaleo with violating Garner's civil rights before the five-year statute of limitations runs out. Attorney General William Barr reportedly overruled members of the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to make the final decision not to pursue charges.