ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — A jury has been seated in the trial of suspended Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard, accused of wrongdoing in the death of Elijah McClain.
Woodyard's is the second trial being held in Adams County related to McClain's death. Last week, a jury reached a split verdict for two other Aurora officers, acquitting Jason Rosenblatt and finding Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.
Woodyard faces a single charge of reckless manslaughter. Opening statements in the trial are expected Tuesday, and the trial is scheduled for about three weeks.
Woodyard was the first patrol officer to confront McClain, 23, as he walked along an Aurora street on Aug. 24, 2019. He was responding to a 911 call that described McClain as “sketchy” because he was wearing a ski mask. He confronted McClain, ordered him to stop, and put his hands on him within nine seconds. Other officers helped him subdue McClain during a struggle. One of the officers alleged that McClain tried to grab a gun during the tussle.
For Woodyard's trial, the judge, the prosecutors, at least some of the witnesses and much of the evidence from Roedema and Rosenblatt's trial are going to be the same.
Two doctors testified at the first trial that the use of a carotid hold, which is designed to interrupt the flow of oxygen to the brain, sent McClain into medical distress. He vomited, inhaled some of it, struggled to breathe, and suffered both low blood-oxygen and an increased level of acid in his body, according to their testimony.
All of that, those doctors testified, created a dangerous situation – and then the decision by paramedics to inject McClain with the sedative ketamine led to cardiac arrest and, three days later, death.
Woodyard faces a sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of six years in prison if he is convicted.
This story includes previous reporting by Kevin Vaughan.
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