The Controversy of Ketamine Use in Arrests: The Story of Paramedic Jeremy Cooper and Elijah McClain

Paramedic Jeremy Cooper was one of two first responders involved in the death of Elijah McClain, a young African-American man in 2019. He has been sentenced to 14 months of half-term detention. McClain died after being injected with ketamine during his arrest to calm him down. The paramedic will be allowed to work during the day but must return to prison in the evenings and on weekends during his sentence. He was also given a four-year suspended prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter along with his colleague.

Elijah McClain was put in a chokehold during his arrest in Aurora and was injected with the sedative ketamine. He died three days later of a heart attack. The case gained media attention after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. During the trial, the first responders claimed they were following procedures, but the prosecution argued they did not properly assess the victim’s condition before administering the ketamine.

A police officer involved in the incident was sentenced to 14 months in prison while two other individuals were acquitted. McClain was stopped by police after an anonymous caller reported him as looking “suspicious” due to wearing ski goggles. His family stated he was out to buy an ice tea and often wore ski gear to stay warm due to his anemia. The use of ketamine in arrests is controversial in the US, and investigations have been launched in multiple states to address these concerns, including Colorado where this incident occurred