Former Aurora Officer Randy Roedema sentenced to 14 months in Adams County Jail for 2019 death of Elijah McClain

Former Aurora Police Officer Randy Roedema has been sentenced to 14 months in Adams County Jail, together with 4 years probation after being convicted for the demise of Elijah McClain again in 2019. 

“I can not assist however ponder all of the completely different situations that might’ve taken place that night which will have resulted in a special final result,” Roedema stated earlier than his sentence. 

The demise of the unarmed younger Black man 4 years in the past obtained widespread publicity inside and out of doors of Colorado and led to large-scale protests and reforms in Aurora’s police division.

The 23-year-old died after 911 operators obtained a name a couple of suspicious individual strolling down the road. They discovered McClain on Aug. 24, 2019, carrying a ski masks and carrying groceries once they arrived at Colfax Avenue and Billings Road. Roedema, Jason Rosenblatt, and Nathan Woodyard have been all indicted by a grand jury for forcibly restraining McClain in a violent battle that was captured on police physique cam video.

On Oct. 12, a Colorado jury reached a break up verdict in Adams County Court docket for 2 Aurora law enforcement officials, Roedema and Rosenblatt who have been on trial for the demise of Elijah McClain. 

 RELATED: Colorado could quickly bar police and coroners from referencing “excited delirium” in deadly power circumstances

The jury discovered Roedema responsible of criminally negligent murder and third-degree assault, whereas Rosenblatt was discovered not responsible of manslaughter and assault. 

Woodyard was discovered not responsible on Nov. 6 of manslaughter and criminally negligent murder. Woodyard reportedly returned to the division after he was acquitted of the costs. 

In line with the Aurora Police Division, Woodyard is now not suspended with out pay following his Nov. 6 acquittal. He reportedly reintegrated with the division and is at present on restricted responsibility. Meaning he’s not in uniform, has no public contact and no enforcement actions pending subsequent steps within the reintegration course of, in line with the Aurora Police Division. 

A jury additionally based two Aurora paramedics responsible of criminally negligent murder on Dec. 22 when the 23-year-old Black man was strolling dwelling from the grocery retailer and confronted by officers, who have been seen on bodycam video, forcibly restraining him whereas Aurora Hearth Rescue paramedics — Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec — injected him with ketamine.    

McClain went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance a couple of minutes later and died three days after that.

RELATED: Learn all our protection of Elijah McClain right here

Cooper and Cichuniec have been each convicted on prices of criminally negligent murder. As for the counts of second-degree assault, Cooper was acquitted of these prices. Cichuniec was discovered responsible of second-degree assault-unlawful administration of medicine and located not responsible on the opposite second-degree assault cost.

Cichuniec was taken into custody instantly following the decision. 

Following the announcement on the sentencing for Roedema, Elijah McClain’s mom Sheneen McClain spoke and believes that everybody who was concerned within the demise of her son on that evening again in August of 2019, did not present any regret.

“Our communities can not know peace till we see the justice departments maintain their very own enforcers accountable,” she stated. “My son won’t ever be a dad, an uncle, or a grandfather. Randy Roedema stole my son’s life. All of the belated apologies on the planet can not take away my son’s blood from Randy’s palms.”

Each paramedics who have been discovered responsible for Elijah McClain’s demise are set to be sentenced on March 1.   

Town of Aurora agreed again in 2021 to pay $15 million to settle a civil lawsuit introduced by McClain’s dad and mom. 

Extra