On Friday, three US police officers and two paramedics pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a young Black man who died after being placed in a chokehold and injected ketamine.
Elijah McClain was apprehended by first responders in Aurora, Colorado in August 2019 in response to a report of a “suspicious” black man “acting weird” on the street while wearing a ski mask.
Unarmed McClain, according to one police, grabbed for another officer’s gun.
During their arrest, they placed him in a chokehold, and paramedics administered ketamine to sedate him.
He passed away three days later. He had gone into cardiac arrest.
His relatives then informed the reporters that he had gone out purchasing iced tea and worn the mask often to remain warm since he had anaemia.
The death of the 23-year-old did not originally get much public notice in the United States.
The following year, however, the death of George Floyd by police officers catalysed a national awakening over racism and police violence, and the narrative acquired notoriety.
Under public pressure, especially from celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, the solicitor general of Colorado will launch an investigation in 2020.
Officers Nathan Woodyard and Randy Roedema, retired officer Jason Rosenblatt, and paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec were charged with 32 charges in 2021, including one case of manslaughter and one count of criminally negligent murder.
The Denver Post reported on Friday that all five defendants pleaded not guilty when they appeared in an Adams County court.
On September 18, Woodyard, who placed McClain in a chokehold, was summoned to appear in court.
The trial of the other two cops will begin on July 11, while that of the paramedics will begin on August 7.
»US police officers and two paramedics plead not guilty to the murder of a young Black man«