*5-10-12
The case will go to trial, and charges are being sought against a third officer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...nd-trial-death-homeless-man-article-1.1075648
*5-8-12
Video has finally been released -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0Imk2Bstg
*Update 9-21-11*
Two officers have been charged.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/da-announces-kelly-thomas-murder-charges.html
*Update 8-6-11*
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...45104#44045104
The process to recall the mayor and two representatives has been initiated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cliffs-
- Police receive calls of man breaking in to cars
- Police confront mentally ill homeless man
- Homeless man resists and tries to flee
- Police tase homeless man at least five times, then beat him to death
FULLERTON – A 37-year-old man who suffered head and neck injuries was taken off life support five days after police say he fought with officers trying to search him.
Kelly Thomas, who was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia, died Sunday afternoon at UCI Medical Center in Orange, his father, Ron Thomas, said.
"It was a brutal beating," said Thomas, a former Orange County sheriff's deputy. "My son's injuries were more indicative of someone using techniques to take someone out, to kill them immediately."
The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when officers went to investigate reports of a man trying to burglarize cars in a parking lot next to the bus depot in the 100 block of South Pomona Avenue, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.
Officers spotted a shirtless man with a beard, shorts and a backpack who they suspected of being involved in the attempted burglaries, Goodrich said.
The man began to fight officers as they tried to search him, Goodrich said.
"We don't know why he was so combative and resistant to the officers, but it took upwards of five to six officers to subdue him," Goodrich said.
Thomas said officers used extreme force and they put him in a state of "Hey, I'm going to die."
"Those people need to be highly trained and not let their emotions get out of control," Thomas said, adding that he specializes in arrest and control techniques.
During the scuffle, Thomas suffered head and neck injuries and was taken to a hospital. At least six officers were involved in the fight. Two officers suffered moderate injuries during the fight, including broken bones.
Goodrich declined to say if the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
Thomas contended that his son's injuries were the result of an "extreme use of force" by officers, who he believes "slammed" his son's head and face into the ground. Based on his son's injuries, Ron Thomas believes officers "took his legs out from under him while pushing him downward."
"They have all the training, they have the weapons, they have the Tasers, and he is 160 pounds, barehanded," Thomas said.
"Sometimes when we take people into custody who don't want to go into custody, we have to use force. It is never the preferred way of doing things," Goodrich said.
Goodrich said police are conducting an internal investigation into the officers' actions and the District Attorney's Office is conducting a criminal investigation.
"In the name of transparency and an impartial investigation, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the department to turn the criminal investigation to the Orange County District Attorney's Office," Goodrich said. "It's an unfortunate and tragic incident and our condolences are with the family."
Thomas is posting fliers around the bus depot area in hopes that witnessed will come forward.
"We absolutely need justice in this," Thomas said.
Kelly Thomas is survived by his father, mother, brother and sister.
-Register staff writer Sean Emery contributed to this report.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/officers-307824-thomas-goodrich.html
The case will go to trial, and charges are being sought against a third officer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...nd-trial-death-homeless-man-article-1.1075648
*5-8-12
Video has finally been released -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0Imk2Bstg
*Update 9-21-11*
Two officers have been charged.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/da-announces-kelly-thomas-murder-charges.html
*Update 8-6-11*
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...45104#44045104
The process to recall the mayor and two representatives has been initiated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cliffs-
- Police receive calls of man breaking in to cars
- Police confront mentally ill homeless man
- Homeless man resists and tries to flee
- Police tase homeless man at least five times, then beat him to death
FULLERTON – A 37-year-old man who suffered head and neck injuries was taken off life support five days after police say he fought with officers trying to search him.
Kelly Thomas, who was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia, died Sunday afternoon at UCI Medical Center in Orange, his father, Ron Thomas, said.
"It was a brutal beating," said Thomas, a former Orange County sheriff's deputy. "My son's injuries were more indicative of someone using techniques to take someone out, to kill them immediately."
The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when officers went to investigate reports of a man trying to burglarize cars in a parking lot next to the bus depot in the 100 block of South Pomona Avenue, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.
Officers spotted a shirtless man with a beard, shorts and a backpack who they suspected of being involved in the attempted burglaries, Goodrich said.
The man began to fight officers as they tried to search him, Goodrich said.
"We don't know why he was so combative and resistant to the officers, but it took upwards of five to six officers to subdue him," Goodrich said.
Thomas said officers used extreme force and they put him in a state of "Hey, I'm going to die."
"Those people need to be highly trained and not let their emotions get out of control," Thomas said, adding that he specializes in arrest and control techniques.
During the scuffle, Thomas suffered head and neck injuries and was taken to a hospital. At least six officers were involved in the fight. Two officers suffered moderate injuries during the fight, including broken bones.
Goodrich declined to say if the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
Thomas contended that his son's injuries were the result of an "extreme use of force" by officers, who he believes "slammed" his son's head and face into the ground. Based on his son's injuries, Ron Thomas believes officers "took his legs out from under him while pushing him downward."
"They have all the training, they have the weapons, they have the Tasers, and he is 160 pounds, barehanded," Thomas said.
"Sometimes when we take people into custody who don't want to go into custody, we have to use force. It is never the preferred way of doing things," Goodrich said.
Goodrich said police are conducting an internal investigation into the officers' actions and the District Attorney's Office is conducting a criminal investigation.
"In the name of transparency and an impartial investigation, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the department to turn the criminal investigation to the Orange County District Attorney's Office," Goodrich said. "It's an unfortunate and tragic incident and our condolences are with the family."
Thomas is posting fliers around the bus depot area in hopes that witnessed will come forward.
"We absolutely need justice in this," Thomas said.
Kelly Thomas is survived by his father, mother, brother and sister.
-Register staff writer Sean Emery contributed to this report.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/officers-307824-thomas-goodrich.html
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