Two Aurora paramedics charged in Elijah McClain’s death defend actions, say police officers hurt...

Both paramedics on trial for giving Elijah McClain an overdose of ketamine took the stand in their own defense on Monday saying police officers on the scene didn’t allow them to treat McClain effectively and they didn’t fully tell them about McClain’s condition -- including that he had received a carotid hold.

Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper, each facing reckless manslaughter and assault charges in McClain’s death, told an Adams County jury they followed their protocol for treating a person suffering from excited delirium — even though neither of them appeared to have observed anything except McClain handcuffed laying on the grass, struggling with officers on top of him.

Both Aurora Fire Rescue Capt. Cichuniec, a paramedic, and Cooper, a fire medic, gave McClain an overdose of ketamine -- almost 50 percent more than he should have received for his body weight.