At least three officers are under investigation for taking inappropriate photos at a memorial for Elijah McClain, according to CBS Denver.
The pictures were reportedly of officers reenacting the chokehold that was used on Elijah, who died three days later, while in police custody last year.
The Aurora Police Department’s interim police chief, Vanessa Wilson released a statement late Monday night saying: “Thursday afternoon, I was apprised of allegations reported to Internal Affairs by an Aurora Police Officer alleging multiple Aurora Police officers were depicted in photographs near the site where Elijah McClain died. All involved officers were immediately placed on administrative leave with pay in non-enforcement capacities.”
The statement continued, “I immediately ordered Internal Affairs to make this investigation their top priority. This accelerated investigation was completed this evening. This investigation will be publicly released in its entirety promptly upon its conclusion. This will include reports, photographic evidence obtained, officer’s names, and my final determination which can rise to the level of termination.”
The McClain family issued the following statement through their attorney:
“Just when we thought the Aurora Police could not be any worse, they somehow find a new low. This is a department where officers tackled an innocent young black man for no reason, inflicted outrageous force – including two carotid chokeholds – for fifteen minutes as he pled for his life, joked when he vomited, and threatened to sic a dog on him for not lying still enough as he was dying. They tampered with their body cameras to hide the evidence. They exonerated the killers. They deployed riot police and spewed pepper gas on peaceful protestors [sic] at a vigil of mourners playing the violin. And now this.”
Colorado officials continue to face mountain pressure to fire and charge the officers and paramedics involved in McClain’s death. The district attorney has expressed no interest in reopening the case.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
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