Officer Daniel Pantaleo officially denies ever choking Eric Garner

In spite of what our eyes tell us as we watch the video of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo with his arms tightly wrapped around the neck of Staten Island resident Eric Garner, Pantaleo, through his attorney, has now publicly denied applying a chokehold.

In an interview with CNN, Stuart London, attorney for Pantaleo, spoke about his clients recent interview with the Internal Affairs Division.

"He indicated he never used a chokehold. He used a takedown technique he was taught in the academy. He said he never exerted any pressure on the windpipe and never intended to injure Mr. Garner."

London said Pantaleo had been trying to arrest "someone who was noncompliant." Speaking to investigators about the case on Monday, "he was confident and related the facts in an accurate and professional manner," London said.

A significant amount of the public frustration regarding the homicide of Eric Garner stems from the repeated denials that a chokehold was ever applied. While Pantaleo and the NYPD appear intent on insisting that what we see is an approved headlock and not a chokehold, it's hard not to view it as a chokehold when we hear Garner saying "I can't breathe" eleven times.