NYPD Officer Faces Trial in Landmark Chokehold Case

A Bronx Supreme Court trial is currently underway for NYPD Officer Omar Habib, who faces charges of second-degree strangulation and unlawful restraint. The case represents the first time an officer has been prosecuted under New York City’s 2020 chokehold ban, codified as Administrative Code §10-181.

The charges arise from an incident on July 29, 2023, at a catering hall located on Eastchester Road. Prosecutors allege that during the encounter, Habib applied a chokehold to a man, resulting in the individual’s temporary loss of consciousness. The identity of the victim has not been publicly disclosed.

During the proceedings, evidence presented included body-worn camera footage recorded shortly after the incident. In the video, Habib is seen sitting in his patrol vehicle, where he appears to speak to himself, stating, "What’d you do, bro?" and "I’m done."

This trial is being closely watched as a test case for the city's legislative response to police misconduct, which was enacted following the 2020 protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. According to records cited by Gothamist, Habib has been the subject of seven civilian complaints since he joined the department in 2007, five of which were substantiated by the Civilian Complaint Review Board.