Family of Eric Garner speaks out in New York City | USA TODAY

The family of Eric Garner speaks out after the decision not to bring civil rights charges in the death of Eric Garner.

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WASHINGTON – The Justice Department will not bring federal charges against a New York City police officer over the death of Eric Garner during a chaotic arrest that ignited nationwide protests five years ago.

The decision, described by federal officials familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly, marks the end of a civil rights probe into an episode that helped turn a national spotlight on how police officers use force against minorities.

Authorities spent years investigating Garner's death in an examination that proved contentious both inside and outside of the Justice Department. Attorneys in the department's Civil Rights Division long advocated bringing a criminal charge, while prosecutors in Brooklyn recommended against it.

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