A New York City grand jury has reportedly declined to indict a white police officer in the case of Eric Garner, a 43-year-old unarmed black man who died on July 17 in a police chokehold, a lawyer involved in the case stated, according to USA Today.

The decision not to indict the officer who had put Garner in a chokehold despite the man's shouts that he couldn't breath has brought on concern that the ongoing Ferguson protests may intensify.

The New York City grand jury's decision reportedly comes nine days after a grand jury declined to indict Ferguson police officer in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, which had launched protests across the country.

The medical examiner had reportedly ruled Garner's death a homicide, but there was still no indictment of the officer who had put the man in a chokehold. During his encounter with the police, Garner had reportedly raised both hands in the air and told officers not to touch him, according to CNN.

In the viral video of Garner's interaction with the police, an officer is reportedly shown grabbing the man in a choke hold and pulling him to the New York City sidewalk.

The cause of Garner's death was reportedly "compression of neck (chokehold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police," the medical examiner's office has stated.

After the choke hold, which resulted in the death of a man, officer Daniel Pantaleo was reportedly put on modified assignment and stripped of his badge and gun amid the investigation, and the NYPD's commissioner ordered an extensive review of training procedures.

"He was anxious and anxiety-filled prior to that," stated Pantaleo's attorney Stuart London, as he explained that his client testified for approximately two hours on November 21 in front of the grand jury.

He continued, "He is cautiously optimistic and knows that his fate is in their hands now."

The protests that have erupted in Ferguson and New York City regarding the death of Michael Brown have reportedly become more peaceful as interactions with demonstrators and the police have been cordial for the most part.

"The NYPD appeared genuinely sympathetic to the marchers, giving everyone wide latitude to voice their frustrations," stated photographer Joel Graham, who took pictures of the demonstration taking place in Upper Manhattan.

He added, "This crowd was composed of good, well-meaning people who understood that peace was the only option and were adamant that things remain calm over Eric's death."