I have been following this story for weeks, but could not bring myself to look at the photographs. The images are worse then what I imagined!
One disturbing key in this story is how out of control these man were. Inspite of being adviced by bystanders that they were being recorded, they continued to beat and tazzer Kelly even though he was hancuffted and not moving, all his "I'm sorry" and his pleas to stop, that he "couldn't breath" were ignored. In the last moments of consciousness Kelly called for his dad to help him.
Kelly was homeless thought he had the support of his family.
They continued to beat Kelly, while witnesses screamed at them to stop, because he was not resisting. The fact that Kelly suffered with mental illness should have been taken into account. He needed understanding and kindness, not violence!
A bus driver in Fullerton, CA., had the good sense to record this conversation and this is what the witnesses had to say about the police beating of Kelly Thomas, who died as a result of the injuries caused by these murderers in uniform. The US is the great country, but within the cities, once in a while you'll find mini dictatorships, as was the case with the city of Bell in CA. If not for KFI 640 Radio Station and the new media, the Fullerton Police Department and the Mayor would have just made this story disappear.
Tensions rouse as the weeks passed and nothing was being done to bring the criminals to justice. In fact weeks after the murder, these thugs were still patrolling the streets of Fullerton-now that's a scary thought!! In an interesting twist, Kelly Thomas' father is himself a former police officer, who feels betrayed by his own brothers.
To get an idea how above the law the Fullerton police department think they are-the local Fullerton blog "Friends of Fullerton", was threaten with a lawsuit by a lawyer hired by the Police Union, for reporting on the corruption and crimes of this police department and in particular the Kelly Thomas beating.
This next video shows Fullerton Mayor Richard Jones loosing it during a counsel meeting and yelling at citizens demanding justice for Kelly, to shut up-how sensitive of him! This guy is a real peace of work and every time his opens his mouth another inflammatory comment come out. At one point he said "It's very traumatic. I've seen far worse. For 20 years I operated on people injured in Vietnam. Airplane accidents and other things. I've seen far worse injuries that were survivable. I don't know why he died."
Numerous protest have been staged by Fullerton citizens in the weeks following the murder. Every Saturday since the murder became public, a protest has been scheduled in from of the Fullerton P.D. Another form of protest used by Fullerton citizens has been to hunk the horn in protest, to which the police responded by handing out citations that were later voided.
Officer Manuel Ramos who knew who Kelly Thomas was before he beat him into a coma and Corporal Jay Cincinelli who helped beat Kelly remain on administrative leave-they are still getting paid.
Officer Manuel Ramos will be charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Cpl. Jay Cicinelli will be charged with involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force. That's it??
The other four have not been charged and are also on administrative leave. In my book they are just as guilty as the other two. They stood by and did nothing to protect Kelly Thomas from to obvious murderers in uniform!The names of three of the other four are: Kenton Hampton, Joe Wolfe and James Blatney
Press conference announcing the charges against the two man.
Fullerton citizens are asking for a recall and signature gathering has begun. For more information and to get involved and sign the petition, if you live in this area visit "The Fullerton Recall"
Another beating in Fullerton... Craig Prescott gets beaten by 7 officers while in police custody.
There is so much corruption in this city, that I could write a book and I would still have to leave things out.
