A Colorado paramedic has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 36-year-old man, Jesus Lopez Barcenas, who died after being sedated and restrained during his arrest.
The charges were announced by Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, who described the actions of Edward McClure as “reckless” and responsible for Barcenas’ “untimely and tragic death.”
The Incident
The incident occurred on December 27, 2024, when Boulder police responded to a suspicious person call at the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Upon arrival, officers encountered Barcenas, who allegedly refused to comply with their questions, claiming a nearby building was on fire.
When police attempted to handcuff him, Barcenas reportedly resisted and attempted to grab one of the officers’ guns. After a brief struggle, officers successfully restrained him.
McClure, a paramedic from American Medical Response (AMR), arrived at the scene along with other paramedics. Police instructed McClure to evaluate Barcenas before transporting him to jail.
However, McClure allegedly injected Barcenas with 5 milligrams of the sedative Droperidol before assessing him. McClure’s comments, including a remark about “holes in the pants” when injecting the sedative, were captured on body camera footage.
Barcenas was then placed face down on a gurney and restrained with a seatbelt and a “spit sock” mask. While it is common for suspects to be given the mask to prevent spitting, Barcenas was not spitting at the time.
The Aftermath
As the ambulance transported Barcenas to the hospital, his condition worsened. McClure administered CPR, but Barcenas died two days later.
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was “sudden cardiac arrest following a prolonged physical altercation and struggle, which included prone positioning and the use of restraints and a sedative.”
The presence of methamphetamine in Barcenas’ system also contributed to his death, as he had a bag of meth on him at the time of his arrest.
Charges and Legal Action
Following an investigation, McClure was charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors stated that McClure’s actions, including placing Barcenas face down on the gurney and applying unnecessary restraints, were reckless and led to the man’s death.
The AMR fired McClure three days after the incident for violating company policies, including the policy against placing handcuffed individuals face down.
The police officers involved in the incident were cleared of any wrongdoing. District Attorney Dougherty emphasized that, while the police officers’ actions did not contribute to Barcenas’ death, the actions of McClure were directly responsible for the fatal outcome.
The tragic case highlights the dangers of improper restraint and the use of sedatives in high-stress situations. As McClure faces legal consequences for his actions, Barcenas’ family is left to mourn the loss of a loved one in what prosecutors are calling an “untimely and tragic death.”
