NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday the Justice Department is "closely monitoring" New York City's investigation into the death of a man who was placed in an apparent chokehold by a police officer arresting him on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. "The civil rights of Eric Garner were violated," Sharpton said after the closed-door meeting with officials from the criminal division of the U.S.