APTOPIX Police Chokehold Death

Protestors shout at Times Square after it was announced that the New York City police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner is not being indicted, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in New York. A grand jury cleared the white police officer Wednesday, although the city medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide and found that a chokehold contributed to it.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The action taken by a New York City police officer against Eric Garner is "clear," writes U.S. Rep. Justin Amash on Wednesday.

Clearly excessive force against #EricGarner. I pray that peace and justice will prevail. — Justin Amash (@justinamash) December 4, 2014

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township

The Cascade Township Republican is one of several lawmakers tweeting in disappointment following a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who wrapped his arm around Garner's neck and placed him in a chokehold on July 17.

The incident was captured on video, showing Garner talking with police as they suspected him of selling tax-free cigarettes. The 43-year-old man then is overcome by officers who take him down to the sidewalk. Garner cried out, "I can't breathe," several times before becoming motionless.

The New York City medical examiner's office ruled his death as a homicide. Garner died because of a "compression of neck (chokehold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police," according to a CNN report.

Hours after the grand jury's decision, Amash took to Twitter and wrote there "clearly [was] excessive force against #EricGarner" on behalf of the police officers.

In August, the congressman weighed in on the clashes between police and protestors in Ferguson, Mo., following the police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Andrew Krietz covers breaking, politics and transportation news for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.