NYPD under fire after video of man dying hits the web

NEW YORK -- The New York Police Department is under fire after video of an asthmatic man dying while under a pile of officers hit the internet. The video is so jarring, the Mayor of New York offered his condolences to the family of the man.

The video posted to YouTube shows 43-year-old Eric Garner arguing with plain clothes NYPD officers. Garner explains to officers they are always messing with him, and he didn't do nothing. \"Every time you see me, you try to mess with me,\" says Garner. \"This stops today.\"

New York Daily News reports police allege Garner was selling untaxed cigarettes. The man filming the video says Garner had just finished breaking up a fight. \"They jumped him and they were choking him. He was foaming at the mouth.\" says the man filming the video. \"And that's it, he was done. The cops were saying 'No, he's OK, he's OK.' He wasn't OK.\"

According to the New York Daily News, NYPD's Internal Affairs told Garner's wife \"this is wrongdoing.\"

New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio even offered an apology to Garner's family via Twitter.

On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Eric Garner.

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) July 18, 2014

Read the New York Daily Times for more on this story