Kelly Thomas, Fullerton Homeless Man, May Have Been Beaten To Death By Police

New video has emerged of eye witnesses recounting the July 5th beating of homeless man Kelly Thomas in Fullerton, California. Friends of Fullerton obtained security footage of a bus where several people who witnessed the incident discussed what they saw at length.

From the transcript [PDF] (M refers to "man," W2 means "second woman," B refers to "bus driver"):

M: I'm telling you Homeless guy was just chillin', and then the cops came, two cop cars came, two cops, they tried getting him but he just ran off from them, ran away from them, and then they caught him pound his face, pound his face, against the curb, was red, and they beat him up

W2: They can't do that.

M: And two other more cops came, and tazed him six times

(W2 mumbles)

M: They beat him up, and then all the cops came and they hog tied him, and he was like, "Please God, please dad!"

B: They killed him?...

M: Yeah

W2: There's a huge puddle of blood right there...

B: There's a good pool of blood...

The Huffington Post first wrote about Thomas' beating and death when video surfaced of the incident. While the camera isn't pointed toward the violence, audio of Thomas being tased, screaming, and calling out for his father can be heard in the background.

Fullerton Police were called to the bus depot on July 5 because of reports that someone was breaking into cars. Authorities tried to arrest Thomas, a homeless man who suffered from schizophrenia. When he resisted, six police subdued him with tasers and other means for about six minutes. Thomas then fell into a coma and was treated at the UCI Medical Center. Less than a week later, he died because of his severe injuries (photo here. WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC).

The Orange County District Attorney's Office and the FBI are now investigating the case, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Ron Thomas, Kelly's father, claims that the the City of Fullerton offered him $900,000 to settle the civil side of the case. He first revealed this on the John and Ken Show KFI 640, but city officials will not confirm this, reports the OC Register. All six officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave for now as the investigation is ongoing, reports CBS Los Angeles.

*This entry has been updated to reflect the status of the officers involved.

Comments

[Darjeeling]

11:18 PM on 08/21/2011

Peaceful protests are being held every Saturday in front of the Fullerton, CA police department at 237 W. Commonwealth from 9:00 - 3:00. Please join us in supporting the family of Kelly Thomas. Check www.ktmf.org for more info.

[Steven Trower]

01:50 PM on 08/20/2011

How anyone can even try to justify this is beyond imagination! What happens is, every officer depends on the other to back up or "save his life" if needed and if a GOOD officers doesn't play along with the bad, then he is putting his life more at risk! We need to find a way to change this, a way by which good officers can come forth when problems exist without fear of reprisal! When interviewed, all potential police recruits are asked questions about how they would deal with witnessing a fellow officer breaking policy or even the law. The answers that State, County and City leaders want to hear, are not always in the best interest of the public, but more so about protecting their jobs as politicians and the entity they serve. This is also something that we as citizens must address and see that change is brought forth. Yeah, it's a tough job and only those with the morale mental character should chosen to perform it!

[ugotstyle]

02:35 PM on 08/19/2011

Let me shed light on the "Only A Few Bad Cops" argument we so often hear.

"Few Bad Cops" would mean one cop could be bad, his partner should be good.
"Some Bad Cops" Would mean two cops could be bad in the same squad car, but other officers who arrive should NOT be just as bad.

"Fuked Up Cops" means 2 cops attack a man, other cops show up on the scene, kick the kick him with their knee, continue hitting him and then shoot him with a tazer.

How in the hell could 6 cops ALL let this happen? If there was even ONE GOOD COP he would be within his rights to shoot the other cops in the process of attempted murder.

This is not "Few bad cops" this is ALL the cops.

Something is seriously fukd up when we have 6 RANDOM cops showing up on the scene and all don't even have to conspire to assist in the murder of a homeless man.

[hellokitty8675309]

03:24 PM on 08/17/2011

I cannot even believe they can live with themselves. I know if i beat someone to death that i would not be able to...but then again i have a remorse for others. How would they like that to happen to someone they love...or better yet to them. I am sure they would not enjoy that too much. They think they are high and mighty because they are of the law, guess what, at one point in your life you were not a cop!! remember that when you decide to go killing people. Serve and protect yeah right i am sure mercilessly beating someone is not in the job description. I am absolutely disgusted. I just hope justice will be served and maybe for once people wont just look past it saying " oh they are just doing there job ". We need as a nation to stop letting people get away with murder.

[Juanita Bottle]

02:10 AM on 08/13/2011

this is so unbelievable 6 cops beating homeless schitzco to death

[Michael Valentine]

10:48 AM on 08/12/2011

Let's stop demonizing the poor for being poor.

Every homeless person is human, unlike corporations that are more highly esteemed yet not breathing or living.

Where are our morals?

[Ronald Robert]

03:25 AM on 08/10/2011

Remember, Fullerton,Ca.P.D. We didn't start the fire

[kittyloverstarm]

01:37 PM on 08/06/2011

Wow admin leave talk about the heavy hand of justice.

[dbrett480]

11:26 AM on 08/06/2011

I am not defending or condoning the actions of these 6 officers, but it seems like Hpost commenters have a completely different standard when it comes to how they feel about police officers. In cases where teachers have sex with their students, the whole teaching profession is not labeled en masses as sex offenders. When scientists lie about their research and write fraudulent papers, not all scientists are attacked as a group. When doctors botch surgeries, not all doctors are labeled as quacks. And when commercial truck drivers fall asleep at the wheel or get drunk, not every truck driver is condemned.

However, on Hpost when a police officer (or officers) are involved in a use of force that results in a tragic death, EVERY officer is condemned by the posters here as thugs, murderers, or bullies. Fortunately these deaths are incredibly rare (which is why they make headlines), but I don't think it is asking too much to treat the officers involved as individuals and not malign an entire profession based on individual incidents.

[edejan]

12:23 PM on 08/06/2011

Maybe because many have had really bad experiences with police. And when police do something horrific, they are always given the benefit of doubt and are assumed to be in the right. Most often, they don't face repercussions. Those who "protect" us are armed and free to kill anyone any time if they so wish. Fortunately, 99% don't do that but a few bad ones terrify citizens who don't know when they'll run into a bad situation.

[dbrett480]

01:27 PM on 08/06/2011

Due to the nature of their work, most interactions with law enforcement will not be positive. They show up during the most stressful times in people's lives, either when they are victims of a crime or have committed a crime. This can range from cops showing up at a loud college party (basically "killing the buzz" for everyone there) to arresting an otherwise law abiding citizen for DUI when they have had too much to drink to simple speeding tickets. Police officers think nothing of these encounters as they happen many times per shift, but they leave a lasting impression to the person being arrested or ticketed.

Police officers are not given the benefit of the doubt, as any officer that has been in a shooting will attest to. The perception that they will not face repercussions is far from true, as many officers have been victims themselves of discipline heavy sergeants seeking higher rank. As I have said before, these tragic incidents are fortunately few and far between. Unfortunately people are using these incidents to reinforce a false perception that they have of law enforcement officers.

[ColdDimSum]

04:18 PM on 08/22/2011

I'll tell you why I think this is treated differently, it's because of the fraternalistic protectionism practiced by police (at least I think a large part of it is).

No matter how bad, corrupt or abusive an officer is, 99% of the time every other officer will back him up (or at least this is the impression). You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. It's wrong and it needs to change and until it changes the actions of the few will taint the many. There needs to be more clear lines that are not crossed - the police need to know they are there and the citizens need to know they are enforced and that the rights of the citizens actually matter.

For another example, Citizens need to have the absolute RIGHT to video and record the police without being attacked, beaten, murdered, and our equipment confiscated. We shouldn't have to fear recording police abuse - These "Good Cops" you mention should be protecting our right to do so, loudly and vocally. Where are they? What we see instead is case after case after case after case where the police violently and often tragically violate our rights and they are given a pass because "hey, it's a tough job". And I honestly do appreciate that fact - but it doesn't excuse what's happened in this country.

Then we see this, not one bad cop, but SIX different officers. It's irrational to assume we're seeing the only six bad cops in

[Kerry Rusholme]

02:48 AM on 08/06/2011

I am absolutely appalled and disgusted at this tragedy and ferociousness. There is no justifiable reason for a human being, much less six, to brutally attack and steal the life of someone who had done nothing to personally threaten their being.

What's even more disturbing is the lack of respect and action shown by Mayor F. Richard Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Don Bankhead and Council Member Pat Mckinley. No one deserves their precious life to be beaten out of them! Had that been done to their son or daughter, I am certain we would be hearing from them and seeing some action taken!!

These City Representatives not only have an obligation to the community they serve, but as human being to take immediate action and remove these "officers" as well as the chief of police from their duties they have neglected.....to "protect" and serve. It is the least one can do in the face of such senselessness and it is also the right thing to do.

[charon]

02:45 AM on 08/06/2011

The cops in New Orleans, the cops in OC, the cops everywhere. Beating, killing, torturing with broken broomsticks, throwing people off bridges after raping them. Not all of them are bad, but there are bad ones just about everywhere. They act with impunity--who ya gonna call on them? the cops? lol! They'll just beat you down then.

[Barbara Geach]

10:20 PM on 08/04/2011

This story can not be allowed to die. The police are counting on the public to forget. Keep that photo of Kelly in your mind. Remember his last cries for his dad. Hold Kelly in your hearts until the last cop is punished for this inhumane slaughter of a helpless individual.

[FactsvsFear]

02:56 PM on 08/04/2011

I say fight back. The police have murdered in cold blood many people over the last few years. It's becoming a epidemic. Oscar Grant comes to mind. I cannot feel for police officers slain in the line of duty. They have been bringing about a war against the people for to long. And the good cops always no matter what cover for the bad ones so I feel they are all our enemies.

[dbrett480]

11:02 AM on 08/06/2011

Officers that are shot in the line of duty are not shot as retribution for isolated incidents of excessive force. They are shot by hardened criminals that don't want to get caught.

[FactsvsFear]

02:51 PM on 08/04/2011

This young man was described by everyone and I mean everyone who knew him a little or very well as very gentle and no danger to anyone. There is nothing that justifies what was done to him. I could not hold back my tears watching CNN just a minute ago. They showed the video clip and you can hear him begging for his life and crying out for his father. His story is sad. He was not a bum by any means but was a young man inflicted with a horrible mental illness. I am beside myself with how my heart bleeds for this man and his family. Anything other than murder charges for these police is insane. I do not have faith that much will happen to them. I live close to were Oscar Grant was shot in the back while face down and handcuffed by a police officer. He was out in little more than a year. There was video of it even and it was cold blooded murder.

[jddelane]

01:25 AM on 09/23/2011

Would fan you again, if I could, for your eloquent post concerning this horrific situation.

[Keir Heath]

09:22 AM on 08/04/2011

Thank God I live in Germany, a country that knows all too well the dangers inherit in a state where the police overstep their mandate to trample on the happiness, well-being and livelihood of the common man. The state looks after its people whilst allowing them to live as they see fit without undue interference. The US however seems more and more to be following a fascist route; as its influence diminishes around the world, it seeks to enforce its dominance upon its own people. There doesn't appear to be any hope given the general decline in its education system and completely ignorant, unqualified people who run for office and are given headlines due to notoriety rather than experience and ability. What a dystopia the US has become, and we in Europe, grateful for the US of three generations ago, can only shake our heads and bemoan the loss of a former model and friend.
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