Ewwwww.....did someone just fact?!? So unpleasant (closing nose with fingers) and that was a strong one too....
But that was my thought as well, if he could say he couldn't breathe he obviously had air in his lungs of course we can't count on the "news" to look too deep into facts getting in the way of a good narrative.
Everything by the book... There's a reason why the corrupt judge wouldn't allow the Police training manual to be used as evidence in defense of those officers...