Pathologist Uncertain if Police Neck Hold Contributed to Elijah McClain’s Death as Officers Stand Trial for Homicide
The pathologist who conducted the autopsy for Elijah McClain, a young Black man who died in 2019, testified on Tuesday that he was uncertain if a police neck hold contributed to McClain’s death. McClain’s death, along with the deaths of George Floyd and others, sparked widespread protests against excessive police force towards Black individuals.
Initially, pathologist Stephen Cina ruled McClain’s cause of death as undetermined. However, in a revised autopsy report from 2021, Cina stated that the cause of death was an overdose of the sedative ketamine. The drug was injected by paramedics after McClain was stopped and put in a neck hold by police officers in Aurora, a Denver suburb. Cina noted that the ketamine was administered after McClain had been forcibly restrained by the police.
During his testimony, Cina clarified that he did not have sufficient evidence to determine whether McClain’s death was accidental or if the neck restraint used by the officers played a role in it. The ongoing trial, which is expected to continue into the next week, has defense attorneys for the officers seeking to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
The defense strategy has been focused on shifting the blame to the paramedics who administered the ketamine and even to McClain himself. They argue that McClain’s struggles against the officers weakened him and made him more susceptible to the overdose.
The neck hold maneuver used by the officers is called a carotid control hold and restricts blood flow to the brain, temporarily causing unconsciousness. Many states have banned the use of neck restraints following the Black Lives Matter protests.
According to Cina, McClain had been kept on the ground for 15 minutes before receiving 500 milligrams of ketamine from paramedics. Despite weighing 140 pounds (64 kilograms), McClain received a higher dose of ketamine than recommended for someone of his size, resulting in an overdose. Cina clarified that the levels of the drug found in McClain’s blood were within a range that would not be harmful to most people.
Cina also mentioned that if the neck hold caused McClain to vomit and subsequently inhale his vomit into his lungs while being restrained by the police, it could have contributed to the complications caused by the ketamine. However, he noted that McClain could have also inhaled his vomit after being given the ketamine and placed in the ambulance while lying on his back.
Pulmonologist David Beuther, who testified for the prosecution, stated that McClain vomited repeatedly and inhaled vomit into his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe. Beuther emphasized that even before the administration of ketamine, McClain’s health had deteriorated to the extent that he required intensive care.
The events leading to McClain’s death began when a 911 caller reported his suspicious behavior while walking home wearing earbuds and a mask. Officers approached McClain, resulting in Officer Nathan Woodyard placing his hands on McClain and turning him around. As McClain tried to escape Woodyard’s grip, the encounter quickly escalated, with officers taking him to the ground and applying a neck hold. Paramedics arrived and administered ketamine to McClain, who went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and was later taken off life support.
Initially, a Colorado prosecutor decided against prosecuting McClain’s death due to the lack of a clear cause of death in the original autopsy. However, following protests over the death of George Floyd in 2020, Democratic Governor Jared Polis ordered a new investigation, which led to indictments against two paramedics and three officers involved in McClain’s death.
The officers currently on trial, Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt, face charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent reckless homicide, and assault. Both officers have pleaded not guilty. The trial for Officer Nathan Woodyard is scheduled to begin later this month, and the paramedics will be tried in November.
Throughout the trial, body camera footage from the officers has been presented to support both the prosecution and the defense. However, it remains unknown whether Roedema and Rosenblatt will take the stand to testify.
The trial is ongoing, and as more evidence is presented, the case continues to highlight the ongoing debate surrounding excessive police force and the accountability of law enforcement officers.
