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VIDEO: Police Put Pregnant Woman in Chokehold, Advocates Say

By  Aidan Gardiner and Gustavo Solis | July 29, 2014 12:04pm | Updated on July 29, 2014 12:26pm

Rosan Miller
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BROOKLYN — A video surfaced Tuesday that appears to show an NYPD officer using a chokehold on a pregnant woman in East New York Saturday, the latest in a series of similar controversial videos of violent police arrests.

Officers were sent to the home of Rosan Miller, 27, who is 7 months pregnant, to tell her to stop using a barbecue grill on her front sidewalk at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to police and advocates.

When Miller began to fight back, slamming her gate on an officer's hand, one officer tried to subdue her, briefly wrapping his left arm around her neck, according to the video released by former City Councilman Charles Barron.

Witnesses shouted at the officer, "She's a pregnant lady! You're going to lose your job," according to the video.

 Charles Barron and Rosan Miller hold a press conference after meeting with Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson at his office after a video surfaced showing an officer briefly use a chokehold on the pregnant Miller during a barbecue in East New York, July 29, 2014.
Charles Barron and Rosan Miller hold a press conference after meeting with Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson at his office after a video surfaced showing an officer briefly use a chokehold on the pregnant Miller during a barbecue in East New York, July 29, 2014.
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DNAinfo/Gustavo Solis

Barron and Miller met with Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson Tuesday evening.

"We had a very positive meeting with the district attorney," Barron said after the meeting in downtown Brooklyn.  "We'd like to see all of the charges against the (miller) family dismissed. They are bogus."

Miller said she was "still in shock" during the press conference.

"All he [commissioner Bratton] needs to do is take better control of his officers."

Chokeholds are prohibited by the NYPD, but the department was forced to address their unsanctioned use after Staten Island father Eric Garner died earlier this month when a detective was caught on video using the hold while arresting him. Police were also captured on video apparently punching and choking a turnstile jumper in Harlem during an arrest.

Miller was eventually handcuffed and brought to the precinct stationhouse and given a ticket for disorderly conduct, police said.

Miller's husband, Moses Miller, 34, tried to intervene by pushing one of the officers' arms and hands, and even threw his cellphone, prosecutors and police said. The husband was charged with resisting arrest, obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, according to court records. He was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Sunday and released without bail.

Moses Miller's brother, 29-year-old John Miller, also slapped and pushed the one of the officers, officials said. He was arrested on charges of obstruction of government administration and released without bail, according to court records.

Barron said Rosan Miller was assigned to bed rest after the incident and said the baby is believed to be unharmed.

He added that he and Rosan Miller plan to meet with the Brooklyn's district attorney in hopes of getting charges dropped against the family.

"There is no rational reason for them being arrested for barbecuing," Barron said.