94 Killed Using Sedatives While Restrained by Police with only 12 Cited as Sedative Related

In connection with the death of the Black man who served as catalyst for the 2020 racial injustice protests, Jeremy Cooper, a former paramedic, was sentenced to 14 months in prison with work release and probation. However, he was able to avoid going to prison on Friday.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 24: People gather at a candlelight vigil to demand justice for Elijah McClain on the 1 year anniversary.Photo byRich Fury/Getty Images

According to experts, the convictions would never have happened before 2020, when the murder of George Floyd prompted a national conversation about racial profiling in law enforcement and fatalities while in custody.

According to research conducted by The Associated Press in association with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism, at least 94 people passed away after being given sedatives and restrained by police between 2012 and 2021. That is more than 10 percent of the over 1,000 deaths that were found to have occurred as a result of people being restrained by police in non-lethal ways. Jackson was among the 94 Black victims, making up around half of the total.

Before the sentencing, Sheneen McClain, Elijah's mother, read an impact statement while fighting back tears. Cooper "followed the crowd of cowards," according to her, and he showed no regret for his actions.

"I have already experienced so much and I am sure I still have much more to endure for my son," she stated.

Walking home from a convenience store, the 23-year-old was approached by police after someone reported seeing someone "sketchy" in the neighborhood on a 911 call.

At the time, McClain had on a ski mask and was unarmed. According to his family, he suffered from anemia, a blood disorder that can make a person feel cold more easily.

McClain was told he had the right to be stopped by cops when they got on the scene because he was "being suspicious."

McClain is heard telling officers on body camera footage that he was going home and that "I have a right to go where I am going."

In addition to forcing McClain to the grass and placing him in a choke hold, Officer Nathan Woodyard and the other two responding officers also restrained McClain.

Photo byRJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Investigators say McClain suffered a heart attack after receiving a 500 milligram ketamine dose and being placed into an ambulance when EMTs Cooper and Cichuniec arrived.

An updated autopsy report changed McClain's cause of death from "undetermined" to "complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint." As it was in the first report, the cause of death was still recorded as "undetermined".

Pathologist Stephen Cina of the Adams County coroner's office stated that McClain, who weighed 143 pounds, overdosed after receiving a larger dose of ketamine than was advised for a person of his size.

In 12 official death determinations, sedatives were cited as a cause or contributing factor; however, in many cases, authorities never even looked at the proper usage of injections. Traditionally, medical authorities have thought of them as generally safe treatments. Some now claim they should be given closer examination since they might be involved in more than was previously thought.

Sources:

https://myfox8.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-paramedic-sentencing-in-elijah-mcclains-death-caps-trials-that-led-to-3-convictions/

https://abc11.com/paramedic-jeremy-coopers-sentencing-in-elijah-mcclains-death-caps-trials-that-led-to-3-convictions/14737473/

https://www.wral.com/amp/21401131/#amp_ct=1714197452146&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17141970210882&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com