not only do you run the risk of breaking the thyroid cartilage. but you are blocking arterial flow off to the brain. you are obstructing venous return back to the heart, and you are pressing on the nerves that come down, one on each side, the vegas nerve, tenth cranial nerve from the brain, enter the chest cavity and control cardiac, respiratory function. that lead to a diminution of respiratory activity, cardiac arrhythmia, and results in death. so you have a man who its pleading that he can't breathe. keep this also in mind. unlike position on asphyxiation, not to excuse that also kind of banned police behavior. but there, police officers are on top of some body. face is down. you don't see it. here you have the chokehold. you are right next to the man's face. and you hear him gasping, you hear his word, for that to not have made an impression on that police officer for him to have released his hold, is absolutely, absolutely