Justice Dept. monitoring NYC police death probe
By Associated Press
Jul 25, 2014 3:19 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department has been in touch with the family of a New York City man who died in police custody after an officer placed him in an apparent chokehold.

In a statement Friday, Holder called the death of Eric Garner "tragic" and said the Justice Department was "closely monitoring" the city's investigation.

A funeral service was held Friday for Garner. He died last week on Staten Island.

An amateur video shows a plainclothes police officer placing him in what appears be a chokehold. Autopsy results are pending.

Police had suspected Garner of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes on the street.