Fullerton police officers not guilty in homeless man

[+Tyranade Subscriber²]

Two former cops accused of unlawfully killing a schizophrenic California homeless man in July 2011 have been found not guilty.

Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli had been charged with battering Kelly Thomas with a baton and a stun gun during a vicious beating in Orange County that left him unconscious.

 

He never recovered from the attack ? which was captured on video tape ? and died just five days later.

 

The acquittals came despite what appeared to be damning footage of the then-Fullerton officers continuing to beat the 37-year-old even as he begged for mercy and said he was sorry.

 

More + Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/fullerton-cops-aquitted-homeless-man-death-article-1.1578808

 

And a Video Done by The Young Turks in 2012 About this artical.

 

Yes some of the beating is shown in that news report so if you do not want to see it don't click play.

 

 

How in holy hell did they get away with that...

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

They get away with it because they are cops.
Law enforcement rarely if ever prosecute other law enforcement.

[+Tyranade Subscriber²]

They get away with it because they are cops.

Law enforcement rarely if ever prosecute other law enforcement.

 

It's absolutely ######ing disgusting what they did...

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

It's absolutely ****ing disgusting what they did...

Yep of course, but if your wearing a badge its basically a 'Im better than you" pass, and therefore they are not accountable for their actions, as they just use the line 

"We are protecting public safety" 

Its utter ######, but thats how it goes. 

[Memphis]

I hate to say it, but I almost wished he was a minority (before everyone flips out read the rest). Maybe then thanks to how screwed up how we choose to respond to police brutality is, this case could get the kind of attention it deserves.

[DocM]

Looks excessive, however....

First, it was a jury verdict so it's not as of the authorities didn't try on these two. Juries sometimes say 'no.'

As to not trying the third, the odds of conviction were so thin after this case the prosecutors probably feel the resources are better used elsewhere. This is especially true if the verdict comes after a shorter than expected deliberation - a judicial 'HELL no.'

IMO the jury probably looked at the below, the unreported details of which may have made them feel he brought it on himself by resisting arrest - never a good idea - and was a danger to the community.

>

....the suspect, who had a history of run-ins with the police, the newspaper reported.

Defense attorneys, however, said Thomas was to blame for the fight after he disobeyed a lawful order and then fled police who were making an arrest.

They also said that Thomas was not a helpless man, but a violent and dangerous person with a history of drug use and was homeless after beating members of his own family.

>

....and other eyes will review this to see if Federal civil rights laws were violated. The Feds could also prosecute a homicide under the US Code if the park was part of the Federal park system or used Federal funds.

The FBI ? which began to probe the incident back in 2011 to determine whether Thomas? civil rights were violated during the beating ? said it would examine evidence to ?see if further investigation is warranted,? a spokeswoman said.

[Soldiers33]

when you have power you can change anything. It doesnt matter if its jury or not.