Daily Court Summaries

The disciplinary trial for Officer Daniel Pantaleo began on May 13, 2019. Following court proceedings each day, we will share summaries of key developments on this page. Be sure to check back for updates and follow Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for breaking news.

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Trial Summary: Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Day 6 of Pantaleo on Trial

CCRB administrative/disciplinary prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner – NYPD Police Commissioner O’Neill will make a final decision on disciplinary penalty for Pantaleo – if any – for killing Eric Garner.*

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 was the sixth day of the administrative trial of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, related to discipline charges that the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) brought against him for using a chokehold on Eric Garner and killing him on July 17, 2014 in Staten Island.

Day 6 of the trial included two witnesses, both called by Pantaleo’s lawyers for his defense:

Former NYPD Sergeant Russell Jung, formerly served in the Police Academy Recruit Training section of the NYPD. Currently part of a consulting firm.
Dr. Michael Graham, medical examiner for St. Louis, Missouri and Professor at University of St. Louis.
Day 6 also included discussion on whether Pantaleo would testify during the trial (he will not).

Click here to keep reading FULL TRIAL SUMMARY for 06.05.19 -->

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Trial Summary: Thursday, May 16, 2019
Day 4 of Pantaleo on Trial

CCRB administrative/disciplinary prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner – NYPD Police Commissioner O’Neill will make a final decision on disciplinary penalty for Pantaleo – if any – for killing Eric Garner.*

NOTE: Trial adjourned until Tuesday, May 21 (no trial in session Friday, May 17 or Monday, May 20)

Day 4 of the trial included four witnesses, all called by Pantaleo’s lawyers for his defense:

  • Lieutenant Christopher Bannon, currently commanding officer of 120 Precinct Detective Squad. On July 17, 2014, Lt. Bannon was the Special Ops lieutenant of the 120 precinct, overseeing areas including “conditions” (aka “quality of life” offenses/Broken Windows policing); anticrime (aka plainclothes), domestic violence, and traffic).
  • Sergeant Dhanan Saminath, currently 6th precinct detective. On July 17, 2014, Saminath was a Sgt based in the 120 precinct. He was the “conditions” Sgt for quality of life offenses, and the anticrime Sgt. 
  • Officer Mark Ramos, police officer, Staten Island Ferry Security command. On July 17, 2014, Ramos was part of the SI Task Force. He stated he testified in both the Staten Island and federal grand juries.
  • Officer Craig Furlani, police officer assigned to the SI Task Force.

Click here to keep reading FULL TRIAL SUMMARY for 5.16.19 -->

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Trial Summary: Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Day 3 of Pantaleo on Trial

CCRB administrative/disciplinary prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner – NYPD Police Commissioner O’Neill will make a final decision on disciplinary penalty for Pantaleo – if any – for killing Eric Garner.*

Wednesday, May 15, 2019 was the third day of the administrative trial of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, related to discipline charges that the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) brought against him for using a chokehold on Eric Garner and killing him on July 17, 2014 in Staten Island. 

Day 3 of the trial included one witness, called by CCRB:

  • Dr. Floriana Persechino, senior medical examiner for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC (OCME). Persechino is board-certified in anatomical pathology and forensic pathology, and performed the autopsy of Eric Garner. 

Click here to keep reading FULL TRIAL SUMMARY for 5.15.19 -->

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Trial Summary: Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Day 2 of Pantaleo on Trial

CCRB administrative/disciplinary prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 was the second day of the administrative trial of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, related to discipline charges that the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) brought against him for using a chokehold on Eric Garner and killing him on July 17, 2014 in Staten Island. After the NYPD failed to bring charges or move the discipline case against Pantaleo or other officers responsible for killing Eric and the attempted cover-up, the CCRB substantiated discipline charges against Pantaleo in 2017. However, the NYPD blocked those charges from being served until summer of 2018, and didn’t turn over files of evidence to the CCRB until that time. **Despite multiple attempts to block CCRB’s prosecution of Pantaleo and last-minute attempts to delay the trial from moving forward by Pantaleo’s police union lawyers, the trial began on Monday May 13th – almost five years after Eric was killed.

Day 2 of the trial included two witnesses, called by CCRB:

  • Michael Lewis, a long-time Staten Island resident who took cellphone video of part of the killing of Eric Garner, on July 17, 2014.
  • NYPD Inspector Richard Dee, Commanding Officer of the NYPD Recruit Training section of the Police Academy.

Click here to keep reading FULL TRIAL SUMMARY for 5.14.19 -->

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Trial Summary: Monday, May 13, 2019
Day 1 of Pantaleo on Trial

CCRB administrative/disciplinary prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner

Monday, May 13, 2019 was the first day of the administrative trial of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo
, related to discipline charges that the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) brought against him for using a chokehold on Eric Garner and killing him on July 17, 2014 in Staten Island. After the NYPD failed to bring charges or move the discipline case against Pantaleo or other officers responsible for killing Eric and the attempted cover-up, the CCRB substantiated discipline charges against Pantaleo in 2017. However, the NYPD blocked those charges from being served until summer of 2018, and didn’t turn over files of evidence to the CCRB until that time. ** Despite multiple attempts to block CCRB’s prosecution of Pantaleo and last-minute attempts to delay the trial from moving forward by Pantaleo’s police union lawyers, the trial began on Monday – almost five years after Eric was killed.

Day 1 of the trial included opening arguments and three witnesses, called by CCRB.

Click here to keep reading FULL TRIAL SUMMARY for 5.13.19 -->

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