No Charges In Reported Chokehold Death At Westminster Bar

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (AP) - No one will be prosecuted in the death of a man who was reportedly put in a chokehold by a bouncer at a Westminster bar.

Police say 23-year-old Sammy Pickel was found unresponsive at Lodo's Bar and Grill on March 12 in Westminster after becoming involved in a fight that was broken up by workers. His girlfriend said a man tried to pick a fight with Pickel and then four bouncers jumped on him, including one who held him in a chokehold.

The 17th Judicial District Attorney, Dave Young, announced Wednesday that he wouldn't file any criminal charges in Pickel's death because he didn't think he could disprove that those involved acted in self-defense.

Chokeholds have been widely discouraged or banned by large police departments around the country.

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