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Man paralyzed after officer rolled him from SUV

Man paralyzed after officer rolled him from SUV
Posted at 10:57 PM, May 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-20 01:00:39-04

A grand jury determined that a man who was paralyzed after being taken into custody by La Junta police was injured when an officer rolled him out of a department SUV onto his head.

The Denver Post reports police picked up 25-year-old aspiring mixed martial arts fighter Donovan Duran for being drunk in public Dec. 7. He was handcuffed when he hit the pavement outside a hospital, crushing his spinal cord. The grand jury report released Thursday says two officers then dragged Duran toward the hospital's entrance and placed him slumped forward in a wheelchair.

The Otero County grand jury declined to charge the officers, saying that while one of them was responsible for Duran's injuries when he brought him to the ground, it "cannot be the basis of any criminal charges."

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