Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies responsible for the death of a man during transport were sentenced today.
Adam Lunn and James O’Brien were sentenced today after being found guilty of the manslaughter — a class four felony — of Demetrius Shankling (23).
Lunn was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections while O’Brien will serve six. Both men will follow their sentence with an additional three years of mandatory parole, according to a press release from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department.
The former deputies responded to a call where they were asked to transport an intoxicated Shankling to Boulder’s Addiction Recovery Center on Sep. 9, 2018.
Shankling was placed into a transport van holding compartment after being handcuffed behind his back. The compartment was less than 5 feet long and Shankling was 6 feet tall, according to the arrest affidavit.
The smaller compartment required the former deputies to have to raise Shankling’s feet off the floor and press the compartment door shut in order to fit the man inside.
After a 16 minute ride to the recovery center, the officers discovered Shankling was unresponsive and not breathing. Shankling was revived after life-saving resuscitative efforts were applied.
Shankling was transported to the Boulder Community Health’s Foothill hospital where he remained in a coma for 27 days before he died. His death was ruled a homicide by investigators.
“This entire incident is a tragedy to everyone involved, including Mr. Shankling and his family, as well as these former deputies and their families. I’m sure of one thing, this death did not need to occur. I’m also sure these former deputies intended no harm. I am confident we took all the necessary steps for accountability and transparency during this process. We relied on the justice system for a just outcome, and we trust that outcome is the best it can be under a horrible and yet preventable situation. I am deeply saddened for everyone involved,” Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said in a news release.
