Kelly Thomas

Mentally ill vagrant beaten to death by US police

holl gredydau: Los Angeles Times
gyhoeddi: 2nd Awst 2011
Bydd unrhyw diweddariadau newyddion ar yr achos hwn yn cael eu rhestru ar waelod yr eitem hon

An arrest that ended in the death of a mentally ill homeless man in Fullerton has many residents outraged and city officials looking for answers. At about 8:30 p.m. on the night of July 5 [2011], Fullerton police officers responded to reports that a man was trying to get into cars parked near a bus depot on South Pomona Avenue.

Fideo o Thomas guro + sign petitition >
(caution: graphic images)

The suspect was described as a homeless man with long hair and no shirt carrying a backpack, Dywedodd yr heddlu. When officers arrived at the scene, they found 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man who had become a fixture in downtown Fullerton and surrounding cities.

What happened next has Thomas’ family, acquaintances and much of the city outraged. Police said Thomas tried to run after officers searched his backpack and found items that weren’t his. They called in additional officers when he continued to resist, and the scene continued to escalate as witnesses watched.

One took video of the confrontation, a graphic, two-minute clip that has since circulated the Internet. In the video (caution: contains strong language), Thomas can be heard screaming over the clicking sounds of the Taser.

Bystanders also offer a commentary of the scene unfolding before their eyes.

“They’ve Tasered him five times already,” a woman says. “That’s enough!"

“They’re freaking ruthless,” another man says.

Moments later: “I don’t know why they don’t just put cuffs on him and call it a night, instead of hitting him.”

Thomas sustained serious injuries, and was taken by ambulance first to St. Jude Medical Center, then to UCI Medical Center. He died five days later after being removed from life support.

An initial autopsy did not determine a cause of death, and Orange County coroner’s officials are awaiting additional test results.

The incident has caused an outcry in Fullerton. Ar ddydd Sadwrn, 250 protesters stood outside the Fullerton Police Department, wearing T-shirts bearing Thomas’ name and holding signs condemning police.

Yn ddiweddarach y noson honno, a candlelight vigil was held in front of City Hall. City council members said they’ve fielded hundreds of calls and emails about the incident. “There seems to be a general sense of outrage and fear,” Councilman Bruce Whitaker said.

The Orange County district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation, arfer safonol ar ei gyfer yn-y ddalfa marwolaethau a'r swyddog digwyddiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â. Amdanom ni 25 ymchwilwyr wedi cyfweld am 80 tystion hyd yma, Dywedodd swyddogion, but expect to talk to about 100.

The FBI also has opened an independent investigation, after a request from Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Police Chief Michael Sellers said in a July 28 statement that his department was fully cooperating with investigators and was looking into the matter internally.

“The department believes it is in the best interest of everyone — the police department, Mr. Thomas’ family and the Fullerton community as a whole — to have a thorough and independent investigation conducted by an outside agency,"Dywedodd.

Of the six officers involved, one was placed on administrative leave. The others -– whose names were not released -– have been reassigned to non-patrol duty. Two were injured during the altercation.

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