A New York City Police Department officer, Omar Habib, was found guilty on August 14, 2026, of strangulation and using a prohibited chokehold. This marks the first conviction of an NYPD officer under the city's 2020 chokehold ban, which was enacted following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Habib was convicted of a misdemeanor for violating the law that prohibits certain restraint tactics, as well as second-degree felony strangulation and third-degree misdemeanor assault. The felony conviction carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, and Judge Cynthia Isales ordered him held without bail.
Habib was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall on July 28, 2023, when he used a chokehold on a man who was resisting arrest. Prosecutors stated that the chokehold impeded the man's breathing and circulation, causing him to lose consciousness. Habib's attorney argued that other factors, such as the man's alcohol consumption, could have contributed to his loss of consciousness.
Prior to this incident, Habib had a history of misconduct complaints related to excessive use of force. The Civilian Complaint Review Board had substantiated an allegation that he used a chokehold in a separate incident in 2017. Following his conviction, Habib was terminated from the NYPD, as required by law. The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York criticized the verdict, claiming it reflects a challenging environment for police officers.
The chokehold ban was implemented in response to widespread protests and calls for police accountability after Floyd's death. The law criminalizes chokeholds and certain pressure tactics during arrests. While the use of chokeholds was already prohibited by NYPD policy, prosecutions of officers who used them were rare prior to this case.