As those of you who follow my blog may have noticed, I have not written about government abuses, police brutality, and corporate greed since the start of the holiday season. Even since the 1st of the year, I have been reluctant to go back to these issues. But when I saw this story, I was so sickened that I couldn't let it just go by.
The pictures of Kelly Thomas in a hospital bed are so horrific that it is impossible to make out what you're looking at. It's hard to even tell it's a human being.
Thomas, 37, a mentally disabled homeless man, was beaten, Tasered, suffocated and pistol whipped as he lay on a street corner being sat on by six police officers during an incident on July 5th, 2011.
The officers involved were acquitted on charges of second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and criminal assault three days ago in an Orange County, California courthouse. Ron Thomas, the victim’s father, a retired Sheriff’s Deputy said, "This is carte blanche to police officers to do whatever they want."
A 33 minute video of the incident clearly shows Thomas being stopped by officers Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli for no apparent reason. The video shows Thomas being detained for fifteen minutes while his backpack was searched. Thomas was ordered to sit on the ground, with which he complied. The search revealed two letters addressed to an attorney, and a decision was made to proceed with an arrest.
The officers then place latex gloves on their hands in anticipation of making physical contact with Thomas. The officer's complete demeanor changes instantly, becoming extremely aggressive, and he starts yelling and swearing at Thomas, shouting conflicting orders.
At that point Thomas runs to the other side of the squad car and the officers take him down. While one officer kneels on Thomas' back, the other officer begins Tasing him. In what has become a standard police tactic, the officers scream orders at him while he's being Tasered, and his inability to comply becomes resisting arrest and justification to unleash more violence upon him.
More officers quickly arrive on the scene and as Thomas is being beaten with fists and flashlights, you can hear Thomas calling out, "God help me, help me God," but as the pummeling continues, a failing voice degenerates into a heart-wrenching, "They're killing me dad...Daddy...Daddy."
When Thomas was taken from the scene by ambulance, a large pool of blood could be seen on the sidewalk, glistening in the strobe lights of the squad cars.
After being beaten into a coma from which he never regained consciousness, Thomas died five days later.
An attorney for the police officers stated, "These peace officers were doing their job. They had no malice in their heart,” even though officer Ramos can be heard on the video saying, “You see these fists? They’re about to fuck you up.”
Police claims that the excessive force was necessary because Thomas was "on drugs" was belied by the toxicology report which showed that there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in his system.
"They got away with murdering my son,” said Cathy Thomas, the victim’s mother, after the verdict was announced.
The jury sided with defense attorneys that a prostrate and unarmed Thomas was a threat to six armed police officers. Reporter William Grigg noted, “The jury validated the argument that the act of resisting such criminal violence is a capital offense worthy of summary execution.”
The coroner who conducted Thomas' autopsy said he died of brain damage from lack of oxygen caused by chest compressions and injuries he sustained at the hands of police. The defense argued that Thomas had a pre-existing heart condition and that he died of natural causes.
"All of us need to be very afraid now," said Thomas' father. "Police officers everywhere can beat us, kill us, whatever they want, but it has been proven right here today they'll get away with it."
Kelly Thomas' ashes are kept in a box in his mother's bedroom. Cathy Thomas said she had planned to scatter them when all of Kelly's family were together, but she couldn't do it.
"That's all I have left of him," she said.
Justice For Kelly Thomas
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