California Cops on Trial for Killing a Schizophrenic Man

Posted on: January 14th, 2014 12 Comments
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The case of a homeless 37-year-old man beaten to death by California police officers makes a precedent for future cases involving police brutality. For the first time in the history of Orange County, police officers are on trial for actions while on duty.

Former officer Manuel Ramos has been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter and former corporal Jay Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and the use of excessive force. They are both pleading not guilty.

The two officers were responding to a possible vehicle break-in when they encountered Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old living on the street. Surveillance video footage shows Thomas sitting on the pavement disputing with one of the cops. When the cop hit Thomas on the back, he got up but was ordered to get on the ground.

A couple of seconds later, the other cop hit him with a baton and knocked him to the ground. Over the next several minutes, officers beat Thomas with fists and butts of their guns and tased him several times. He was complaining that he couldn’t breathe and apologizing, begging for them to stop. A third officer joined in and the tasing continued.

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At one point in the video, Ramos can be seen putting on latex gloves and telling Thomas, “Now you see my fists? They’re getting ready to f… you up.”

Thomas was brought to the hospital with severe injuries and fell into a coma. He was removed from life support and pronounced dead five days later.

Coronary report showed that Thomas had died from blunt force trauma and chest compression that prevented him from breathing. The officers’ defense is trying to portray Thomas as a drug addict whose methamphetamine abuse lead to his death, but the toxicology report showed no signs of alcohol or drugs in his system the night he was murdered.

Ron Thomas, Kelly’s father, is concerned that the defense will try to justify the murder on the account of his son being schizophrenic with a history of violent tendencies and drug use.

“It doesn’t matter what my son did in his life, it just doesn’t matter,” Thomas said. “It’s what the officers did that night. That’s what this trial’s about.”

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12 Responses

  1. Steve says:

    These officers should be taken out, strung up by the neck, and after they fall unconscious, lowered and revived, then strung back up, and repeat, and the fifth time, leave them there.

  2. Google+/ YouTube/ Tumbler/ Reddit/ Twitter

  3. YouTube/ I also suffered

  4. Even Clearwater Judges are involved in erroneous prosecution? Judge Horrox, and my PD and State never told me that by law they should have listened to a 911 tape before Jury Trial. The Judge allowed it and when I lost while sitting on the Bench exclaimed; you’d better admit your next case because they are prosecuting. They never did

  5. Twice arrested on the same charge and on probation twice for the same charge?

  6. Tyrone says:

    POLICE CORRUPTION PISS POOR SUPERVISION AND STRAIGHT GANGTER POLICE OFFICERS IS NORMAL FOR NYPD

    Only 1 percent of all complaints made against New Jersey police officers for using excessive force, among other types of police brutality, were deemed legitimate and investigated by internal review teams between 2008 and 2012, according to an investigation by a local newspaper.The other 99 percent of complaints alleging brutality, bias and civil rights violations by officers at more than seven dozen police departments in central New Jersey during that five-year period were reportedly dismissed by internal review teams as being frivolous, lacking sufficient evidence, or in some cases the investigation was never closed, but the officers were still exonerated. Since the national average is not much better — with just 8 percent of all police brutality complaints nationwide being investigated — many have begun to question whether police officers in the U.S. are ever held accountable for their actions.
    Pete Eyre, of the organization Cop Block,which works to hold police accountable, told MintPress that while the percentage of complaints varies slightly between police departments, only a “miniscule amount” are ever investigated. “The fact that almost all police complaints made are deemed ‘not sustained’ isn’t surprising,” since “Looking past stated veneer of accountability is a process of asking the friends of the aggressor to conclude that yes, they were indeed at fault.“The incentive of those ‘investigating’ is to side with their colleagues. There’s no real negative consequence for that occurring and thus, it is the norm. Even if a community views their local police as largely being heavy-handed or corrupt, the police outfit – a coercive monopoly – can’t easily be fired in lieu of a better alternative,” Eyre said.
    But South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, a former president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police who has been called upon to provide expert testimony on police matters and worked on the revision to the state’s internal affairs guidelines, insists that “Agencies do a good job of self-policing.”Representatives of Union County and Somerset Prosecutor’s Offices agreed, saying that there is nothing wrong with its policies, noting that investigations of police brutality are conducted when they are warranted — no more, no less.But in a breakdown of each police departments’ police brutality complaints, the Central Jersey Courier News and Home News Tribune found that in many towns and cities not a single complaint was investigated.In Elizabeth, N.J., for example, there were 203 recorded complaints in the five-year period and not one was found to be substantial. Similarly, Woodbridge, N.J., had 84 complaints, New Brunswick, had 81, Perth Amboy had 50 and Linden had 33.
    Part of what is so surprising about some of these shockingly low rates of investigating claims of police brutality by New Jersey police officers is that there were low numbers across the board, including at some departments that have a notorious reputation for using excessive force. In Edison, N.J., for example, there were 32 recorded complaints of excessive force, and one officer in particular was the subject of 11 of those complaints. Yet none of those complaints were determined to require further investigation. However, there is a slight silver lining for those who complained against the unnamed officer,as he was later arrested on attempted murder and drug charges. During that investigation, lawyers said they found brass knuckles and a small club in his patrol bag, which are prohibited items. Though Americans commonly believe law enforcement’s role in society is to protect them and ensure peace and stability within the community, the sad reality is that police departments are often more focused on enforcing laws, making arrests and issuing citations.

    Police officers in America are in some cases worse then gangs in America! One reason is the employment of white officers raise to hate and discrimination! Their historical coruption is well documented! Bad white cops racist white cops are the reason many city pay out million of taxpayer dollars to victim of police brutality. Police misconduct encompasses illegal or unethical actions or the violation of individuals’ constitutional rights by police officers in the conduct of their duties. Examples of police misconduct include police brutality, dishonesty, fraud, coercion, torture to force confessions, abuse of authority, and sexual assault, including the demand for sexual favors in exchange for leniency. Any of these actions can increase the likelihood of a wrongful conviction. Many NYPD police station are guilty of these crime and get away with it year after years!

    In 1971, police officer Frank Serpico and other officers, testified before the Knapp Commission about the corruption they witnessed in the department. The Commission’s findings led to reforms within the department, developed by Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy. Reforms included decentralizing corruption control, within Field Investigative Units, which were intended to be closer and more in touch with the streets where the problems were. There have been other commissions investigating the NYPD before and after the Knapp Commission, including 1994’s Mollen Commission, which documented widespread police abuse during the late 1980s and early 1990s .
    In 1962, the Bonanno crime family mobster Frank Lino was arrested for his alleged involvement in the shootings of two Brooklyn police detectives. The detectives, aged 28 and 56, were shot dead during a holdup of a tobacco store in Gravesend, Brooklyn, where Lino and two others netted $5,000. Lino was charged with the murders after supplying a getaway vehicle for one of the “stick-up men” so that he could then flee to Chicago. Lino was one of the five men charged after being taken to the 66th Precinct for an interrogation. During Lino’s interrogation, he claimed that police officers drove staples into his hands and a broomstick up his rectum. He alleged that the abuse resulted in a broken leg and arm. Lino was later released with three years probation after he threatened to sue the city for police brutality. He also claimed that the uncontrollable blinking of his eyes was a direct result of the alleged beating.

    Bottom line Americans are responsible for the creation of piss poor white corrupt police officers in America! Don’t get me wrong their are minority officer just as worse! But the majority of corrupt racist police officers are WHITE! Police misconduct statistics gathered by the Cato Institute’s National Police Misconduct Reporting Project confirm that around 40% of all police officers commit police misconduct in a given year and that the consequences of such misconduct are grim. Keith Findley from the Wisconsin Innocence Project conducted a study and found that police misconduct was a factor in as many as 50% of wrongful convictions involving DNA evidence.
    At times, police misconduct is systematic. In one such case, Former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge was arrested on federal obstruction of justice and perjury charges for allegedly lying about whether he and other officers under his command participated in torture and physical abuse of suspects in police custody dating back to the 1980s. On more than one occasion, Burge participated in the torture and physical abuse of persons in police custody in order to obtain confessions and Burge was aware that detectives he supervised engaged in torture and physical abuse of people in police custody. On one specific occasion, in order to coerce a confession, the police officers placed a plastic bag over the suspect’s head until he lost consciousness. He was fired from the police department in 1993 and was later convicted in federal court for perjury connected to a civil lawsuit flied against the city. The story of abuse of authority go on and on!!!!

    • I enjoyed reading your post on statistical analysis of data about Police Brutality and the percentage of white officers involved. I am seeing that the Courts and State Attorneys are just as involved. I am beginning to believe that the Public Defenders are in on it too, in that they are savvy in communicating State Attorney’s statements concerning; if you don’t agree then this will be’, attitudes. Pinellas County Courthouse and Judge Horrox, Newton, and MacGrady the Overseer Judge is so unbelievably smug it is almost beyond me? I have been diligent in all of them being exposed to strong arm tactics in wording; “either agree for fast-track or suffer a worse fate”. I have heard those words from the Public Defenders Office (Bob Dillinger’s), Public Defense Of Pinellas County Courthouse?

  7. lawrence says:

    I keep reading white cops there is evidence that supports that black officers are almost twice as likely to commit brutality to black suspects. The other piece of folklore is that whites do better in court. The statistics i have seen only shows that economics plays a much larger role the race. Poor people are 300% more likely to get stop on baises of condition of car. For years because of the social economic divide blacks were targeted more because they made up the largest population of inner city poor. Meaning a higher concentration poor blacks confined to small areas made it easier to (and still is) profile. But as whites lower economic classes have begun to move from rural to more urban areas the numbers begin to stablize that poor more than anything determines the level of police intrusion. The sad truth is if your poor you have less rights.

  8. Tyrone says:

    Lawrence nothing you wrote was anything near the truth! I worked in law enforcement over 27 years white police officers are more likely to abuse their authority! White police are responsible for 98% of friendly fire! Most of the police officers shot by white police are BLACK!!! Another thing 61% of America poor is white!!! Most crime is committed by whites! The different is whites are more likely to get away with crime by white officers!

    Driving While Black DWB) Walking While Black WWB) are reality for black people! Rich black people don’t get a pass they are just as target as poor black! So the real problem is racist coward white police officers!

  9. Randal Flagg says:

    “Tyrone” sounds like a typical, ghetto idiot. If he is “law inforcement”, which he’s not, then he would be one of those affirmative action idiots like the “fine upstanding officers” in the last few articles.

    “Tyrone”, the idiot, says, and I quote, “Most crime is committed by whites!”

    Let’s take a look at the F.B.I. stats from a few years ago, so the numbers have gone up, just as they infest.

    Blacks:
    13% of the general population
    86% of the crime
    64% of the prison population
    40% + all government welfare handouts.

    If you need cross references, just go to WWWWOOOOOOOORRRLLLLLLL SSSSTTTTTAAAAAAAAA

  10. Tyrone says:

    THE REALITY OF THE BOOGIE MAN MENTALITY IS A HORRIBLE REALITY

    When you create a Boogie Man by demonizing and negatively stereotyping and living in total fear of a race! The Boogie Man Mentality” becomes your reality and belief system! Black people are white people Boogie Man! This belief system is very detrimental and has been deadly to black people! American was founded on hate and divide and racism! This horrible history of hate is rarely identified or acknowledge! Instead it’s taught generation after generation after generation!

    I ones again have to say to the reader of my posts! I HATE NO ONE…..I’M NOT A RACIST……I LOVE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN!!!!!!!! Many time if you read my post you will read that I refer to the media as “the white control media”. This is not a racist statement…….. This is true! The media has always been control by the white majority. Their bias rule their thinking their way story is told to the public! You will also read I refer to “The Boogie Man Mentality”. This mentality is very detrimental to the health and welfare of a black people life! Trayvon Martin and Jodan Davis are victim of the “Boogie Man” mentality!!! The Boogie Man Mentality” is a way of thinking negatively against the black race…Some of the component of “The Boogie Man Mentality” is fear hatred and stereotypical feeling about the black race.

    It has been behind “white racism” “discrimination” “segregation” “separate but equal”“Jim Crow Laws” and white police officers and white gun owners murdering black people forever! I feel “we” as a people must identify “our’ negative! Black parent “must’ teach their children from birth to their death in America you are judge and hated if born black in America. Now that might sound blaming and negative but it’s the reality of living black in America. The Boogie Man Mentality is real!!!! It’s why the first black President has received 47% more death threats then all Presidents of the past! It’s the reason behind 14.6% unemployment for black and 7.7% unemployment nationally! It’s behind the “Shaggy pants law” in some city. Politician do nothing to prevent write “NO” bill against the “UNARMED” murders of black males.

    But shaggy pants make them sick and the hatred and Boogie Man Mentality writes the bill against shaggy pants! It’s behind the reason for the disproportion number of blacks locked up in prisons and jails! When blacks make up 13% of the population and 67% of the prison population. It’s why black “UNARMED “children are shot in the back by police officers. It’s the reason why 5 and 6 year old black children that act up in school are handcuffed by cops. They are not seen as baby they are not loved!!! It’s why (DWB) Driving While Black” is a reality!

    It’s why (WWB) Walking While Black is a reality! It is why during the Katrina incident blacks were referred to as looter. Whites were referred to as survivor! It’s why George Zimmerman can murder an “UNARMED” 17 year old Tray von Martin. And get whites to send money by way of an Internet web site for his defends! So far Zimmerman has collected over $400,000! Unlike the Sandy Hook incident where 24 whites lost their lives. The town had to ask that people stop sending toys and Teddy bears”! Adam Lana the murderer was demonized and deem insane! George Zimmerman has been made a celebrity for stalking and chasing murdering an “UNARMED” black male! Proving “The Boogie Man Mentality” is alive and well in America!

    Bottom line identifying racism identifying “the Boogie Man Mentality” identifying “Wrong Doing”! IS NOT RACIST! I want to inform blacks and whites and other educated to the reality of living black in America. And the mentality that can lead to DEATH! While many in America are being taught that the Boogie Man is black! Adam Lana a white man can drive to a majority white school. With an arsenal of weapon of mass destruction and murdered 26 mostly white! John Wayne Gacy a white man murdered and raped over 33 white males! In both cases the Boogie Man was white! These two white men prove that white on white is white American likely Boogie Man’s reality!!!!

  11. In reference to a comment left back in January of 2014 @ 6:06 am/ the 911 tape after coming out of being in jail it took three weeks later to realize that the 911 tape used against me in trial was perjury in the fact that the static of the tape in not being able to hear voices as I and the Jury did in between and during the static you could hear Danny Ward and the 911 Operator told me that Danny Ward went upstairs to his room to excite the 911 Operator into believing that it was me when it clearly now was his Music on his Computer chiming as he incidentally ran up and down the stairs. It behooves me that the Jury, State Attorney, Public Defender and the Judge most of All didn’t use the Science Method in discerning the higher frequency of my voice not being discernible; after all I am not Michael Jackson in the fact that I can’t sing like Barbara Streisand either? I am dumb founded by the lack of Over-all Schooling that no one seemed to remember? And they call themselves Educated?

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