It was supposed to be a regular day, July 5, 2011, in Fullterton California for the homeless man whom many in the town knew and liked. A day of rest after a day of national 4th of July celebrations. But a sad and vulgar twist of fate came upon Kelly Thomas. Officer Ramos put on some gloves and told Kelly Thomas "I'm gonna F--K you up with these". (see last video below at 12:30 forward) Kelly Thomas panics, gets up and, as a result, endured a cruel & brutal beating; which resulted in the devastating death of the homeless Kelly Thomas on July 10, 2001 - when his father had no choice but to order the life support removed.
All might have gone unreported, had Kelly's father Ron Thomas accepted a $900,000 hush money offer from the Fullerton City attorney. Instead Ron rebuked the offer (here). Purportedly the Fullerton settlement attorney said it is enough money - "your son was not a rocket scientist". A decent man, not concerned with the money, Ron Thomas became upset and demanded justice. It is now reported that the officers are finally going to trial soon. It is also reported (here) that Kelly Thomas's mother has separately settled for $1 Million.
Fullerton was hoping that Ron Thomas would play their game and protect the story from becoming main stream. After all, Ron Thomas was a retired Orange County Sheriff's Deputy. It is nice to see that the proverbial Blue Wall type of silence did not prevail here. Kelly Thomas was kicked, beaten and tazed so much (purpotedly 6 times) that the unit ran out of power. So the police then beat Kelly Thomas in the face, shattering bones as Kelly Thomas's last words were
"Dad! - Dad! - Dad!"
Initial Efforts of Cover Up Failed
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When it comes to justice in America, many things are needed and rare to find. Where the word honor is always used in reference to a judge; it is rare to actually come across ones honorable. As us Occupiers are well aware that the Rule of Law rarely applies to the 1%, Goldman Sachs or Bank of America. Even more so when Police are accussed of wrong doing. It is dang near impossible to prove it. For they handle all the evidence - Usually.
However, in this case, despite the fact that the police tried to claim that Kelly Thomas was on something and was in possession of stolen goods; the evidence did not help. One by one, additional facts came to light. Including the rumor that the officers involved actually bragged about the beating - once they were in their locker room.
Due to social mediums such as YouTube, a Southern Californian radio station (AM 640) and Transist system videos not buried; the evidence overwhelming and profuse was also irrefutable. The Police had abused their power once again - in a brutal, evil fashion. Ron Thomas released the pictures of his son, including the hospital pictures.
WARNING - some are very brutal.
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New Video of Entire Beating emerges
- Ron Thomas Demands Firing of Police
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All the previous efforts at cover ups and remarks that Kelly Thomas was this or that is moot now. A new video has emerged of the entire confrontation. As it turns out the officers worked the situation into a frenzy. If you listen to the beginning of the tape, you will hear the officer (as he leans upon the car) saying - every day nearly - we have to deal with you. Then the officer puts on the rubber gloves and Kelly Thomas is dead a few days later. From the Beating.
If you wish, you can fast forward to 14:30 of the video - to see the worst of it.
Conclusion
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Plain to see, is the fact that Kelly Thomas was doing nothing wrong and the fact that the Police did not arrest him or let him go from the outset, is how the situation escalated out of hand. Ron Thomas is 100% correct. All officers involved in this debacle and the efforts to cover it up afters - should be fired. Here's my previous Diary on the case in August 2011.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Should all of Fullterton Police involved be Fired?
What say Ye?
UPDATE - Shorter Video's
Young Turks Video