DAPPER M August 2014 | Page 30

  He rejected the notion race played a role in the death of Garner, who was African-American. The commissioner, who met with local FBI officials about the incident, said he anticipated a civil suit by Garner’s family and “would not be surprised if the U.S. attorney decides to open a civil rights violation investigation.” An autopsy performed on Garner, who was asthmatic and obese, failed to determine a cause of death. “Further tests need to be conducted before determining a manner and cause of death,” said Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office.   30