The Kelly Thomas Beating - PBS SoCal Special

Controversy has erupted over the death of Kelly Thomas, a 37 year-old homeless man who died after being beaten by Fullerton police officers on July 5. Hundreds have protested over the incident, which is being investigated by local prosecutors and the FBI.

David Nazar will be interviewing:

- Ron Thomas, Kelly's father
- Tony Rackauckas, the OC District Attorney
- Bruce Whitaker, a Fullerton City Council member
- Chris Thompson, a writer for the Friends for Fullerton's Future blog
- Jim Palmer, President of the OC Rescue Mission
- Dr. Gustavo Alva, a psychiatrist with a subspecialty in schizophrenia.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• kelly thomas
• fullerton
• police
• beating
• brutality
• chris thompson
• ron thomas
• bruce whitaker

[chocomalk]

If trained police cannot be held accountable for knowing what constitutes as deadly use of force, then how can the public be held accountable? This was a brutal act regardless of back story, if he was armed and brandished a weapon he would have been shot, not beaten, if a weapon was found after he was apprehended, it was not a threat, just a crime. Either way, they are guilty.

That video needs to be released before it "disappears" or some "time is missing" because of funny motion sensors.

[stevetrower]

You can't justify it! No Way, it's not poor training, it's not the victims fault! It's the criminals who found a way into law enforcement, a way to carry a badge in order to afflict brutality upon those they are sworn to protect! Murder is Murder!

[DaRocknessMonster2]

Get 'em FBI this is not legit at all; and he was simply a homeless man.

FBI will get 'em.

[WildFire0925]

the government, local, state, and federal are hiring more and more of these psychopathic personality types. I wonder why?

[Albert18264]

Poor man was crying out for his dad when being beaten to death . RIP to him .

[crispycritterz]

Is there video of the incident from the police cars dash cams? Do they have dash cams in there cars?

[SnugglePuma]

@lovemyjacksonbass Then they will probably beat the shit out of you and smash your camera, afterwards they will charge you with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, then make up some bull shit story about it in court...

[shwwnn]

@alfredthegreatestuk they're lying. they didn't REALLY feel THREATENED. That's just their excuse if somebody happens to ask them for one. I don't know what it's like in the UK, but in the US, the cops protect each other, and the system protects them REALLY WELL. So you see, even after those 6 cops killed 1 person, they're all STILL working as cops.

[lovemyjacksonbass]

I don't understand why their were soo many people watching but not one of them tried to stop it. I understand that you can't stop them physically, but let the fucking pigs know that they are being filmed and that possibly could have encouraged them to not continue with the beating.

[joebananatube]

These aren't cops they're animals. They belong in cages like animals. To let these animals run free is endangering the whole community. All of the city counselng belongs in jail for incompetence and conspiracy to commit murder

[KevinVancouver2]

This Father is right - it is murder. I think that maybe more of the officers should have been charged. Lets wait to see the video.

[rondymek1]

@kimmie6209 I wish I could connect the dots and give everyone a "conclusive solution", but life isn't that simple. Personally, I pray and have learned to keep my son accountable for taking his medication. He has been stable for a about two years or in the hospital. He lives in a group home and receives his medication, boarding and meals. Agian, that's his choice to be there and is conditional on his actions. I loved and prayed for him while he was homeless and out of control. That worked for me