Autopsy reports stated on Friday that a police officer's chokehold caused a New York City man's death while he was being arrested, rousing anger among the public.

Eric Garner, a black man used the remaining air in his lungs to utter pleas that he cannot breathe due to the chokehold during a confrontation with a white police officer.

Like Us on Facebook

The autopsy report confirmed that the 43-year-old man died by neck and chest compression from the chokehold and being laid flat on the ground while police officers restrained him, Chief Medical Examiner's Office spokesperson Julie Bolcer stated.

Garner, who stood six-foot-three and weighed 350 pounds had asthma, heart disease and is suffering from obesity which contributed to his death, autopsy report explained.

On July 17, the day of Garner's death, two un-uniformed police officers moved in to arrest him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes along a Staten Island sidewalk.

After Garner refused to be handcuffed, Daniel Pantaleo, one of the police officers, applied the chokehold to subdue him, holding him down as they wait for emergency medical services to arrive. At this point, the 43-year-old man was struggling and was crying out that he could not breathe.

Though the medical examiner's office do not hold much pressure on criminal cases, the release of the report may lead to a higher chance that Pantaleo and other officers involved in Garner's death may be held liable for what is now being called a homicide.

Bystanders and travellers caught the confrontation on camera. Footage of the scene was posted on the New York Daily News website.

Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, breathes a sigh of relief that "the truth is finally out."

After the incident, civil rights advocates and some elected officials have pressed on Police Commissioner William Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio to do something to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The city mayor extended his condolences to Garner's bereaved family and has promised to ensure reforms are made to avoid incidents alike to happen in the future while Police Commissioner Bratton declared that police officers will be retrained in the use of force.

Bratton, however, defended his policy on targeting even petty crimes such as peddling untaxed cigarettes.

TagsNYPD, man, choke hold, police officer