Controversial Ketamine Use in Arrests: Aurora Officer Sentenced for Role in Elijah McClain’s Death

Aurora police officer Jeremy Cooper has been sentenced to 14 months of half-term detention for his role in the death of Elijah McClain, a young African-American man. McClain died after being injected with ketamine during his arrest to calm him down. The paramedic will be allowed to work during the day but must return to prison in the evenings and on weekends during his sentence. He was also given a four-year suspended prison sentence.

Elijah McClain was put in a chokehold during his arrest and was injected with the sedative ketamine. He died three days later of a heart attack. The case gained media attention after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. During the trial, the first responders claimed they were following procedures, but the prosecution argued they did not properly assess the victim’s condition before administering the ketamine.

McClain was stopped by police after an anonymous caller reported him as looking “suspicious” due to wearing ski goggles. His family stated he was out to buy an ice tea and often wore ski gear to stay warm due to his anemia. The use of ketamine in arrests is controversial in the US and investigations have been launched in multiple states to address these concerns.