Sep 23 2011

Criminal Charges Brought Against Fullerton Officers in Kelly Thomas Murder Case

On Wednesday Fullerton city police officer Manuel Ramos was charged with second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of a white man named Kelly Thomas. A second officer, Corporal Jay Cicinelli, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force for his participation in the July 5th beating. Described as homeless and schizophrenic, Kelly Thomas was also a known resident of Fullerton, familiar to at least one of the officers who beat and tasered him into a coma. The confrontation between the 37- year-old and police occurred around 8:30pm after Ramos responded to a call reporting Thomas was peering into the windows of parked cars and trying to open car doors. It escalated as Ramos was searching Thomas, who allegedly resisted the officer’s orders. Cell phone cameras and security cameras recorded horrified bystanders commenting on the brutality unfolding in front of them. Here is the audio of one such account, recorded at the bus depot. One can hear onlookers reactions and – a warning to listeners – in the beginning one can also hear graphic audio of Kelly Thomas screaming and being tasered in the background. When announcing the criminal charges in the case, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said of the officers’ actions, “[it] falls far short of the professional, reasonable police conduct our community has every right to expect…” Four additional members of the Fullerton PD were present while Kelly Thomas was repeatedly kicked, punched, hit with a baton, and tasered. Officers Kenton Hampton, James Blatney, Joseph Wolfe and Sergent Kevin Craig helped to physically restrain Thomas, handcuff him, and place ankle restraints on him before loading his body into an ambulance. The DA announced the evidence does not show criminal conduct on their part.

GUEST: Gustavo Arellano, managing editor and columnist at OC Weekly, author of Ask a Mexican, and Orange County: A Personal History

Read the OC weekly’s coverage of the Kelly Thomas case including a detailed article on how events unfolded that night by reporter Matt Coker at www.ocweekly.com

2 responses so far

2 Responses to “Criminal Charges Brought Against Fullerton Officers in Kelly Thomas Murder Case”

  1. DARRELL BEZETon 24 Sep 2011 at 7:36 am

    THIS IS NOT JUSTICE,UNDER THE LAW ALL ARE GULITY OF MURDER.THIS KIND OF MURDER IS GOING ON ALL OVER THE US,.AND THE COP,S ARE GETING AWAY WITH IT.WHERE IS THE DOJ.???

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