-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless schizophrenic, is shown on the left, after his confrontation with Fullerton California police officers, and on the right before his brutalization. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange County in critical condition on life-support and died five days later. Kelly was unarmed, had a slight build, and of medium height.
Witnesses claim that officers continued hitting Kelly with the butts of their flashlights even after he had stopped moving.
Kelly’s father, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, didn’t recognize his son when he visited him at the hospital, and said “This is cold-blooded, aggravated murder.” Kelly’s father said his son was probably off his medication and couldn’t understand the officers’ commands.
An investigation is underway by the Orange County district attorney’s office and witnesses are sought.
In Olmstead v. L.C., the Supreme Court held that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with mental disabilities have the right to live in the community rather than in institutions. One consequence is that even people with serious mental disorders, that are controlled by medication, are members of society. The side effects of the medication are claimed to be worse than the illness they’re supposed to treat and individuals are reluctant to continue the treatment.
This incident demonstrates a lack of self-control by the officers who have manifested sociopathic tendencies.
The video below doesn’t show much of what took place but other videos may surface.
I’ll have to agree with the dead man’s father. This is simply cold-blooded murder.
Raff, do not hold your breath. Like the incident involving the 16-year-old in Ozark, MO, the officers are likely to be found blameless and that they “acted appropriately.’ Following a “thorough investigation,” of course.
This is one of the sickest episodes I have ever seen. The picture of him in the hospital is beyond sad, it is criminal. Every one of those officers who struck him while he was on the ground should be spending the rest of their lives in prison. Maybe that will send a message to the goon squads that exist in almost every police force.
The prosecutor better stand up for this young man.
Here’s a little pertinent irony in my own experience:
Over the past 30 years, I’ve been called for jury duty 6-8 times, I’d guess, only to be excused (by the defense) when it’s found that I’m a paramedic.
The thinking, I’ve learned, is that medics relate to law enforcement too closely, and therefore tend to favor the prosecution.
At no point in any voir dire proceeding, have I ever been able to explain that I’ve seen far too many brutality cases similar to that of poor Kelly Thomas’, to ever reflexively favor law enforcement.
The mean streets of America provide ample opportunity for paramedics to speak out when we witness incidents like this.
But there are precious few of us who ever speak out on anything.
For the sake of this young man, I sincerely hope there really is an invisible Man in the sky, and preferably one who tracks inhumane behavior on a very accurate moral abacus..
Orange County cops are the worst in California. And Fullerton? It’s a white, racist trailer-park. Tom Metzger and the White Aryan Resistance movement found a welcoming home in Fullerton. The cops in Fullerton would fit in fine in New Orleans or Miami or behind the wheel of a tank in Tiananmen Square.
AVOID FULLERTON. If you’re driving through it, obey all traffic laws and posted signs.
Tim in SF, one local law enforcement agency is doing exactly what you suggest. They got some grant funds and that is what the money is going for. I have to applaud the administration of that department.
“The father should do the same as Mrs,Till in exposing the brutality of the beating.” -eniobob
I agree.
Police should have videocameras on their hats and belt buckles, with an extra microphone on their lapel. Every second of their shifts should be recorded, including their breaks (many companies have cameras in the break room, after all). Most importantly – cops should never be entrusted with the ability to turn off theses cameras.
“Kelly’s father, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, didn’t recognize his son when he visited him at the hospital, and said “This is cold-blooded, aggravated murder.”
“Till was returned to Chicago and his mother, who had raised him mostly by herself, insisted on a public funeral service with an open casket to show the world the brutality of the killing.”
The father should do the same as Mrs,Till in exposing the brutality of the beating.
Dredd, I saw that story a day or two ago. Chilling that an honest researcher would have his work the subject of a criminal investigation for reporting his findings. Even if his data are proved to be wrong later, for a scientist to be suspended and investigated is way out of line. The message is clear: report only what the overlords want or pay a personal price.
Given what we hear about agencies like the TSA, ICE, and many others, it reminds one of the old adage, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
The Science Police are “acting up” too.
Kelly Thomas had a beard and the police officers must have thought he was a muslim … could it be?
I AGREE psycopaths!!
An elementary thru high school classmate of mine was a cop for many years with a suburban police force near where we grew-up. Even if I hadn’t become a psychologists and done police candidate evals during my early career, I would have guessed that he was ill-suited to being a cop. Police forces often know it but are faced with hiring less than desirable people during periods where hiring funds become available after a long drought. Eventually, my classmate was kicked off the force for a sexual offense. Given how difficult those are to bring against police, I can imagine that it wasn’t the first time, he’d done something to abuse his position.
Police departments often know who is a problem and the better ones try to find a way to keep them away from situations that would create litigation and other problems for the police department. Given the number of officers here, I suspect, Fullerton wasn’t so careful.It probably helps that the victim’s dad was a cop. the death of guy whose dad was an ordinary schlub would have gone unnoticed.
Thugs are thugs are thugs no matter who they work for.
Psychopaths.
About the time you think it cannot get worse, it does. I have been working with law enforcement agencies for close to forty years and while I have seen officers and supervisors do some dumb things, nothing comes within a country mile of this. Most officers just want to do their job and go home safely to their families at the end of the shift. Unfortunately, some departments seem to have a culture of lawlessness. I blame leadership–or more accurately–lack of competent leadership.
In the video below is another example of the same kind of unthinking lawlessness. Note also the lame excuses given by the Captain for his officers behavior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpzn4ST0C9E
After an “investigation” the officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing.
So let me guess, he was resisting arrest by saying “Dad”?
Thank you Nal….This is sad and happens more often than a lot of folks are willing to admit…Not all towns have Sheriff Taylor…