Santa Barbara Arrest Procedures Intended to Avoid Chokehold Deaths

The Santa Barbara Police Department is weighing in on arrest procedures in the wake of the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City.

Sgt. Riley Harwood says the department trains its officers to use a variety of non-lethal techniques to subdue suspects, including control holds, arm locks and a carotid restraint technique.

Harwood says the chokehold used by the officer in New York City is not recommended.

Some local officers have trained with Pedro Sanchez at the Santa Barbara Krav Maga Family Self-Defense Center in Goleta.

“Law enforcement tends to use it because it’s practical and it makes sense,” said Sanchez.

Krav Maga is the official self-defense system developed for the military in Israel.

Sanchez trains officers to use the carotid restraint technique, instead of the chokehold. Sanchez says it can render a suspect unconscious without permanent damage.

The Santa Barbara Krav Maga Family Self-Defense Center offers free training for officers once a month.

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