Two Fullerton police officers charged in homeless man's death

L.A. Times ^ | 9/21/11 | Abby Sewell, Richard Winton and Scott Gold,

[Nachum]

One is charged with second-degree murder and another is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the slaying of Kelly Thomas, who suffered from schizophrenia.

Orange County prosecutors charged two veteran Fullerton police officers in the death of a mentally ill homeless man, accusing them of a callous cascade of violence against Kelly Thomas as he begged for his life.

Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas on Wednesday said what began as routine questioning by police devolved into a "beating at the hands of an angry police officer," with other officers eventually joining in. He stressed that Thomas did not provoke the attack and that all of his movements were purely defensive.

"This never had to happen," Rackauckas said. "And it never should have happened."

[Nachum]

Ping

[SpaceBar]

Is this the one where the cops turned the guy into hamburger meat?

[Nachum]

I think so.

[WePledge]

Thank you for posting this. This is a horrible case of police run rampant and I’m sure many here will be glad to hear this update.

I will also admit I asked Nachum to post this because I have no clue as to how to do it.

[markman46]

yes hit him in the face with the but end of the tazer 8 times

a one eyes x-LAPD cop

[I see my hands]

A story about pigs and the "good" cops who cover for them.

Remember when you read a story about a cop's bravery or righteous behavior you are reading a lie they got away with. Steroid saturated government unionist thugs: PIGS.

[Chode]

Kelly Thomas Before:

Kelly Thomas After:

from a TChad post

[Revel]

The cop should get the death sentence if only California had it. As it is he will probably get no more than 5 years.

[WePledge]

Yes, it’s the guy the cops beat, tazed,stomped and laughed and cursed at as he called for his Mama. One of these JBT’s
has been in on several beatings.

Now hopefully the pieces of sh!t will get their comeuppance.

[SpaceBar]

I don’t ascribe to your blanket hyperbole. There are good cops, and bad ones. But to call them all pigs is a bit much.

[JLS]

"Police officers who risk their lives daily … now have to be concerned with being charged in the courtroom for simply performing their duties," Barnett said.

As they should, if the rest of us break the law while performing our jobs, we are liable for criminal sanctions. They same goes with cops. Or as the saying goes, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

[BunnySlippers]

WRONG! He looked like a lunatic before.

[wastedyears]

With maybe 1 served for good behavior.

[Tammy8]

I cannot imagine how things like this can happen. It is literally law enforcement 101 that the person you are dealing with may have mental or physical issues that can cause that person to appear to be intoxicated or to have bizarre reactions to questioning or appear to be non-compliant to officers. Examples of people with high blood sugar seeming to be drunk or under the influence of drugs- deaf people not following verbal commands, etc. People that are mentally ill can be unpredictable. This has all been part of law enforcement training as far back as 1978 when I took my first class. There is no excuse for officers on the street today to not be fully aware of these issues.

[BunnySlippers]

Kelly Thomas was not as pictured in your picture. Here he is:

[wastedyears]

He looked normal before becoming homeless. Maybe he suffered a tragedy in his life.

[truth_seeker]

Toxicology results negative. Kelly was well known at AA meeting hall a few blocks away. And also known to be non-violent and very mentally ill.
Tragic.
Why other cops not charged?

[BunnySlippers]

He was schizophrenic! Y ou change, you become nuts!

[Chode]

i never said it was immediately before, and it does NOT justify the second picture... or do you think it does???