Colorado's new restraint law puts police in a bind

Colorado law enforcement agencies are struggling to rewrite the rules on how to subdue suspects after a new law limiting the use of prone restraint.

The big picture: Five years after Elijah McClain's death , the law is one of the final steps Colorado lawmakers took to prevent a similar death in the custody of police and paramedics.

• Authorities used a carotid hold and prone restraint, along with an injection of ketamine, to subdue McClain in 2019.
• The carotid hold is now banned and more restrictions on the use of ketamine are in place.

Why it matters: The lack of an acceptable alternative to putting someone in a face-down position is vexing authorities and leading to a variety of policies across the state, CPR News reports .

What they're saying: "I believe it's fair to ask the question, is this tactic being abused or misused and can we do better?" Attorney General Phil Weiser told the radio station. "Without standard guidance, we're more likely to make mistakes."

Threat level: The prone restraint is used by authorities to stop a suspect from resisting arrest, but the position also makes it difficult to breathe, particularly if someone lays, sits or kneels on the person.

• In McClain's case, experts said he couldn't breathe in the position while he was vomiting. One police officer and two paramedics were convicted in his death.

By the numbers: Fourteen people between 2012 and 2021 died after being placed in a prone restraint by law enforcement, an AP analysis found .

What's next: Colorado law enforcement agencies have until July 2025 to establish new policies on prone restraint.