banksizit
It announced that a Fullerton police officer was charged with murder in the death of Kelly Thomas by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Hearing how he described the min by min of what occured, made me cry. I felt so many emotions inside of me. Mostly hate and rage hearing what the officer did. And it was all caught on video.
4 Answers
Ann
I saw the before and after pictures of Kelly Thomas.There was no reason to use force on the man. He was unarmed. I wish I had not seen the pictures "after" I am absolutely horrified that this was a police officer who actually murdered Kelly Thomas. How can we trust our law enforcement officers? I have lost confidence in theire saying "Serve and protect"
| 13 years ago. Rating: 7 | |
matheneyg
I did not see it but have read what all the police did to that man, If any body other than the police did something like that to another person they would be charged with capitol crime murder and evevery one of those thugs should be put away. Rhat is not police officers but pure thugs. Who have given good cops a black eye that will last a long time. Shame on them and the city of Fullerton,Ca. for hiring goons like that.
| 13 years ago. Rating: 3 | |
Every police thug that was involved with that beating should be charged in federal court that mans life was exterminated just as if he was a cockroach to be stepped on and life snuffed out. they have given good police officers a black eye all over the country over this. Respect for the law enforcement personel has dropped to a very low low point in my book.
| 13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
metal face
Shows the Police in Fullerton may be in need of some serious remedial training.Usually this type of incident is not always the first of it's kind with some officers.Often there are warning signs an officer is having a problem with use of force before things deteriorate to such depths.Sounds like the polie department's policies and prociedures are woefully inadequate,or not followed by the officers and administration.Sadly;many good cops are sullied by such thugs.It's shamefull it had to end this way.
| 13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
Jay Cicinelli faces one felony count of manslaughter and one felony count of excessive force. Could face four years in prison.
Ramos knew Kelly Thomas from prior contacts. He did not believe Kelly Thomas posed him any risk. Thomas was shirtless with a backpack wearing a pants with no obvious bulges. The officers did not think he needed to be patted down. While Ramos's partner went through Thomas's backpack, Ramos gave Thomas instructions. His instructions were to sit with his legs out with his hands on his knees. It would be obvious to any reasonable observer that Thomas had cognitive issues and had problems following Ramos's instructions. After several minutes, Ramos escalated the contact into a physical altercation.
Ramos made a deliberate showing of putting on latex gloves in front of Kelly Thomas. He stood over Kelly Thomas and repeatedly said to put his hands on his knees. Thomas would put his hands back and fold his legs. Ramos stood over kelly thomas with a pair of latex gloves and he made a demonstration while he was standing over kelly thomas of putting on those gloves in a menacing manner. When he put the gloves on, he ordered Kelly Thomas, "put your hands on your f-ing knees." He leaned over Thomas in a menacing way. He made two fists. He put his fist in Thomas's face and said, "See my fists? They're getting ready to F you up."
By making this declaration of violence against Kelly Thomas, Ramos instilled in that victim fear for his life. Fear of a police officer who wanted to F him up with his fists. Police officers have a right to force. But citizens have a right to self defense in the face of excessive force. Ramos took this contact from lawful use of detention to unlawful use of excessive force when he raised his fist. Ramos then grabbed Kelly Thomas by his arm. Thomas started taking steps away from Ramos. Then a baton came out. Kelly Thomas put his hands up, palms out, in a defensive positions. Palms open. Ramos yelled at Kelly Thomas, "Get on the ground." The other officer came running out from behind his car to assist with the arrest that officer Ramos was doing. The evidence does not indicate that Ramos' partner had any involvement in the exchange, or that he had any knowledge that Officer Ramos was engaged in unlawful police conduct. The physical altercation began as Officer Ramos swung his baton and chased Kelly Thomas. He punched Thomas in the ribs several times on the ground. He put his hand on Kelly Thomas' neck for leverage. He held him for other officers to use their force on Kelly Thomas. Wolf (Ramo's partner) kneed him and tackled him. Cicinelli arrived at the scene at 8:45 p.m. and kneed Kelly Thomas twice in the head. He used his taser four times on Thomas.
Three of the times Cicinelli taser Kelly, he held the charge five seconds. The fourth time he tased him, he discharged darts, and shocked Thomas for approx 12 seconds. Cicinelli used the front of the taser to hit Kelly Thomas in the face eight times while Kelly Thomas was pinned to the ground with the weight of the other officers' bodies. There was no audible response from Kelly Thomas at this time. When Kelly Thomas didn't scream, it should have indicated to Cicinelli that Thomas was down.
The evidence does not show that responding officers actually beating Thomas.
Thomas' numerous please of "I'm sorry," "I can't breathe," "Help," "Dad," were all to no avail. Kelly Thomas not responding when the blows to his face occurred? No help. The growing pool of blood? No help. Ramos is charged with murder for creating this dangerous situation that placed KElly Thomas' life in jeopardy and for placing the responding officers in that situation.
Ramos had to know he was creating a situation where Kelly Thomas would fear for his life. Ramos knew that the other officers would come to his aid and assist in applying force to Kelly Thomas. Ramos knew when he did that that Kelly Thomas was going to be hurt. Badly hurt.
The cause of death was mechanical suppression of the thorax. Kelly Thomas could not inhale. Over time his brain was deprived of oxygen. He went into a coma and died. That is the primary cause of death.
It falls so fall short of professional police conduct.