A former police officer and use-of-force expert told a court last week that former Aurora, Colorado, officers Jason Rosenblatt and Randy Roedema did not properly handle Elijah McClain during his forcible detention in August 2019, which ultimately resulted in his death.
On Friday, Sept. 29, Dr. Marc Brown, who also instructs at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, reviewed the body camera footage from the incident. He testified to the jurors that both Roedema and Rosenblatt made several mistakes in how they treated McClain both before and after he was subjected to two carotid holds.
Moreover, Brown stated neither Roedema nor Rosenblatt adhered to the Aurora Police Department’s training, which mandates that officers must closely monitor suspects’ physical conditions.
“You think that failing to tell the paramedics that this man has been complaining over and over again he can’t breathe is consistent with the training?” a prosecutor with the Attorney General’s office, Jon Bungee, asked the witness, CPR reported.
Trending Today:
“It’s inconsistent because it says respiratory arrest or distress,” Brown replied. “Even a complaint of ‘I can’t breathe’ is supposed to be treated like a medical emergency.”
In 2021, five individuals, including the two officers, were charged in connection with McClain’s death. Both officers face charges of reckless manslaughter and second-degree assault. Additionally, a third officer and two paramedics have also been indicted and will face trial later this year.
On August 24, 2019, police were called after a teenager reported Elijah McClain as acting “suspicious” as he was walking home from a store while wearing a coat and mask.
WATCH THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE HERE.
Less than a minute after police arrived, they approached the young man, prompting an altercation between McClain, Roedema, Rosenblatt, and a third officer. The 23-year-old was placed in a carotid…
Read the full article here