The suburb of Denver has seen a wave of recent demonstrations amid nationwide reckoning for an end to police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd. And APD has specifically controlled over its own practices.
Earlier this month, Aurora police pulled their guns on a Black woman and four minors after she had mishandled her car for someone who had been stolen.
Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said in an earlier statement that “after realizing the mistake, officers immediately dismissed everyone involved, unhandcuffed, explained what happened and apologized.” The Colorado District Attorney has announced an investigation into the incident.
The city of Aurora has also commissioned an independent inquiry commissioned by Elijah McClain into the death in 2019 as a “comprehensive review” by the police department, both separate from the district attorney’s investigations and State Attorney.
A family demands justice
On Tuesday, the McClain family filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city of Aurora.
“The unconstitutional behavior of Aurora on the night of August 24, 2019, is part of a larger measure, policy and practice of racism and brutality, as reflected by her attitude and behavior both before and after her murder of Elijah McClain, a young Black man, “the trial says.
McClain was stopped by three White officers last August as he was walking home from a nearby store. After McClain resisted officer contact, a fight broke out, and an officer placed McClain in a chokehold when he briefly lost consciousness, according to an overview of the incident that police provided earlier this year.
McClain began fighting again, once he was released from the grip, the report said. When paramedics arrived, they were administering the drug ketamine to calm McClain, the report said. McClain suffered a heart attack while in the ambulance and was pronounced brain dead three days later, the district attorney said in a letter.
The officers were placed on administrative leave after McClain’s death, but were later reinstated after prosecutors refused to save charges. In June, Gov. Jared Polis responded to public outcry by announcing that his administration was re-examining the case.
The lawsuit also lists several members of the Aurora Police Department and Aurora Fire Rescue as suspects.
On submission, nine claims of relief were mentioned, including excessive force; refusal of equal protection; failure of basic safety and providing adequate medical care and treatment; substantive due process – release from liberty – compulsory administration of medication; battery causing unauthorized death; and negligence causing unlawful death.
When reached for comment, a Aurora City spokeswoman said they were not served and could not comment on the submission until they had time to check it.
Leslie Perrot, Kay Jones, Mallika Kallingal and Raja Razek of CNN contributed to this report.
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