Uploaded by freedomluchador on Sep 21, 2011
Santa Ana, California (CNN) -- A police officer has been charged with second-degree murder and another faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of a mentally ill homeless man who died after a confrontation with police, California prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The actions of Fullerton Police Officer Manuel Ramos, who has been charged with second-degree murder, "were reckless and created a high risk of death and great bodily injury," Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told reporters.
The second officer, Cpl. Jay Cicinelli, is being charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony excessive force, the prosecutor said.
The charges come in the death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, who was beaten by police during an altercation in July and died five days later. The FBI is also investigating civil rights violations in the death of Thomas, a homeless man with schizophrenia.
Six Fullerton officers were put on paid leave after Thomas' death. The case put widespread attention on the police department of Fullerton, located about 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Since then, two other brutality allegations have been made by men who were allegedly injured by Fullerton police last year, and officer Kenton Hampton has been placed on paid leave in the wake of one of those two complaints, a department spokesman said.
The district attorney has described the incident involving Thomas as "a violent and desperate struggle."
Thomas' father told CNN that he would like to see at least two of the six officers charged with manslaughter because, he said, "the other four weren't as involved."
Ron Thomas spoke outside the district attorney's office just before the prosecutor's news conference was scheduled to begin Wednesday morning. He said the prosecutor's office wasn't going to allow him into the news conference, but he was scheduled to meet with the prosecutor afterward.
Regarding all six officers involved in the arrest of his son, Thomas added: "They should all lose their jobs and not be allowed to work in law enforcement."
A family attorney for Thomas has already publicly released Thomas' hospital and medical records showing that he was brain dead by the time he reached the hospital after the police altercation. Thomas had no narcotics or prescription medicine in his body, the attorney said.
According to the medical records released by the family attorney, Thomas died from brain injuries as a result of head trauma. Thomas also suffered multiple broken bones in his face and rib fractures, and he was shocked multiple times near his chest cavity and on his back with a police Taser, the family attorney said.
Thomas suffered nose and brain trauma and smashed cheekbones, according to the medical records. The family attorney accused police of using their Tasers to deliver some of the head and face blows.
The medical reports provided by the family attorney said Thomas suffered internal bleeding, and Thomas also choked on his blood, the family attorney said.
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Charged all six of them not just two stupid cops ramos should but put to death
THESOLID13 5 months ago