DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora Police Officer Nathan Woodyard’s trial began Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the death of Elijah McClain.
As of Monday, the jury for Woodyard’s trial was seated. Opening statements were on Tuesday morning.
On Thursday, the jury came back with a split verdict for two officers’ involvement in McClain’s death.
One officer, Randy Roedema, was found guilty on charges of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. The other officer, Jason Rosenblatt, was acquitted of all charges.
Less than 24 hours after the verdict, jury selection for Woodyard’s trial began.
Woodyard was first officer to stop McClain
On Aug. 24, 2019, officers responded to a 911 call and stopped McClain while he was walking home from a convenience store. The 911 caller reported McClain, who was wearing a runner’s mask and jacket and listening to music, and said he seemed “sketchy.”
Three officers approached McClain after he left the store. McClain was put in a neck hold by officers and pinned to the ground before he was injected with the sedative ketamine by paramedics.
Woodyard was the first officer to stop McClain when he was walking away from a convenience store in 2019.
Reports say Woodyard put his hands on McClain within 10 seconds of stopping him. Woodyard turned McClain around. When McClain tried to escape his grip, Woodyard was heard on body camera footage saying, “Relax, or I’m going to have to change this situation.”
The scene escalated quickly after Roedema, Rosenblatt and Woodyard took McClain to the ground.
Woodyard is charged with reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.