Multiple Colorado Police Officers Are Under Investigation After Being Photographed Near Site Of Elijah McClain’s Death
Late Monday, the interim police chief in Aurora, Colo., announced that multiple officers have been placed on administrative leave and are under investigation. This comes after photos of them surfaced at a memorial where Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old black man, died in police custody in 2019.
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Vanessa Wilson, the interim chief, explained in a statement that she learned Thursday of allegations reported by an officer to the department’s internal affairs unit. Apparently, “multiple Aurora Police officers were depicted in photographs near the site where Elijah McClain died.”
“All involved officers were immediately placed on administrative leave with pay in non-enforcement capacities,” Wilson said according to The Washington Post. As of right now, it remains unclear when the photos were actually taken and what the unidentified officers were doing near the memorial for McClain.
As we previously reported, McCain was walking home from a convenience store after purchasing some tea when he was stopped by Aurora Police. His family explained that the 23-year-old massage therapist was wearing a ski mask at the time because he was anemic and it helped to keep him warm.
While trying to stop his music so he could hear what they were telling him, bodycam footage showed one officer threatening that if McCain keeps “messing around” that he would “bring my dog out and he’s going to bite you.” One Officer then placed him in a chokehold to restrain him. McCain then fell ill after and had vomited by the time paramedics arrived to administer the ketamine. McCalin later died days after.
Nearly four million people have signed a change.org petition demanding that the officers involved be taken off duty. The three officers involved have only been moved to non-enforcement duties. Officers Nathan Woodyard and Jason Rosenblatt were moved to desk duty on June 13, and officer Randy Roedema was reassigned on June 20. Just recently Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) appointing a special prosecutor to reopen the investigation of McClain’s death.
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