Elijah McClain Death: Aurora Police Officer Jaron Jones Resigns After Photo Scandal
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) -- One of the three Aurora police officers involved in taking pictures that reenacted the chokehold used on Elijah McClain has resigned. The Aurora Police Department is expected to discuss discipline and/or internal affairs investigations involving as many as five other officers on Friday.
"Jaron Jones, hired October 31, 2016, tendered his resignation. Jones was one of the employees involved and depicted in the photograph investigation related to #ElijahMcClain. We will continue to update w/developments as we proceed," police tweeted Thursday.
The photos were taken in October 2019, according to police, near the site where officers contacted McClain.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said he has not seen the photos himself — but confirmed the photos depict the officers reenacting the carotid hold used on McClain.
On Tuesday, FBI investigators said they are aware of the photographs and are "gathering further information about that incident to determine whether a federal civil rights investigation is warranted."
The employment status of the other officers involved has not been confirmed.
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McClain died after a confrontation with Aurora police in August of 2019. Officers used a carotid hold on him and paramedics injected him with ketamine to subdue him. McClain suffered cardiac arrest that led to a loss of blood flow to the brain. He died three days later.
Police reports state that McClain was given 500 milligrams of ketamine because paramedics estimated his weight at 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds. According to his autopsy report, McClain weighed 140 pounds.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mayor Coffman said the use of ketamine is under review.
The community has demanded the three officers and two paramedics involved in the confrontation be fired.
The three officers involved in the incident were removed from patrol duty in June.
