I would be deeply troubled if one of my family had been ganged up on and brought down like that, all over a cigarette sale. Yes, he pushed them into high gear when noncompliance equals resistance.
Do you know how many times the cops had to gang up on him and bring him down before ? He was out on bond and committing what he knew was an arrestable offense.
This was not about selling one cigarette. Actually , it was a fight the police were called to break up. The participants had fled, leaving Garner and his buddy and various onlookers around. The store owner wanted Eric out of there because he had been involved in the fight AND was STILL trying to sell 'loosies' which came from black market tobacco (imported with no tax payments) and provides profit to ORGANIZED CRIME.
He repeatedly stood in front of the store and harassed customers, and was taking away sales from the store itself. He repeatedly refused to obey the law.
If you had a business, would you put up with someone like this in front of your store, harassing your customers and cutting off your legal income ?
It is unfortunate that in all the exertion in the 'fight' and then the struggle with the police that he had an asthma attack, which led to lack of oxygen to the brain, which led to cardiac arrest.
The guy couldn't even walk one block without being being 'out of breath' and near death.
I would suggest that if any of your family have heart disease, sleep apnea, obesity, severe diabetes, and asthma that they not get into a wrestling match with anyone, no matter how minor the 'crime'. They should save their breath and cooperate with being placed under arrest.