Fire Officer Over Death of Eric Garner, Judge Says

An administrative judge has recommended firing the New York City police officer accused of using a chokehold in the 2014 death of Eric Garner. The judge's findings in the disciplinary case of officer Daniel Pantaleo were provided Friday to his lawyer and the city agency that acted as a prosecutor at his department trial, the AP reports. The Civilian Complaint Review Board chairman said the judge had recommended that Pantaleo be dismissed.

Pantaleo's lawyer will have about two weeks to submit a response before Police Commissioner James O'Neill makes a final decision on punishment. Garner's dying pleas of "I can't breathe" became a rallying cry against police brutality; protesters chanted "Fire Pantaleo" at New York Mayor Bill de Blasio during the Democratic presidential debate Wednesday night in Detroit. Pantaleo denies using excessive force in arresting Garner.

(More Eric Garner stories.)