A group of California police officers is seen punching, kicking and later Tasing a mentally ill homeless man last summer in a horrifying video played at a hearing to determine whether the two police officers should be tried in the man's death.
Kelly Thomas, 37, died days after the incident last year, which renewed a national debate about police training and treatment of the mentally ill.
Thomas’ death also sparked protests in California over the police officers’ treatment of Thomas.
Six officers were put on paid leave after the incident.
The grainy video shows the incident beginning when one of the officers, Manuel Ramos, told Thomas to put his hands on his knees and his feet out.
Thomas, who is shirtless, doesn't immediately respond, prompting Ramos to yell, "You see my fists?"
Thomas replied, "Yeah, what about them?" as Ramos slips a pair of gloves on and yells, "They're getting ready to f--- you up."
Kelly Thomas, 37, died days after the incident last year, which renewed a national debate about police training and treatment of the mentally ill.
Thomas’ death also sparked protests in California over the police officers’ treatment of Thomas.
Six officers were put on paid leave after the incident.
The grainy video shows the incident beginning when one of the officers, Manuel Ramos, told Thomas to put his hands on his knees and his feet out.
Thomas, who is shirtless, doesn't immediately respond, prompting Ramos to yell, "You see my fists?"
Thomas replied, "Yeah, what about them?" as Ramos slips a pair of gloves on and yells, "They're getting ready to f--- you up."
The officers had been responding to a call about a homeless man looking in car windows, the Los Angeles Times reports.
After Ramos slips on his gloves, Thomas then stands, and another officer, Jay Cicinelli, walks over, the video shows. The duo begin to hit him with their batons as he begs for help.
Thomas can be heard saying he can't breathe and that he's sorry as the police continue to strike him.
"Dad, they're killing me!" he shouts in one gut-wrenching moment.
Later, more officers arrive and Thomas is hit with a Taser.
"We ran out of options so I got the end of my Taser and I probably … I just smashed his face to hell," Cicinelli said later, according to the LA Times.
Thomas reportedly suffered facial fractures, rib fractures, brain injuries, extensive bruising and abrasions.
He died after having his chest compressed, leaving him unable to breathe, CNN reported.
Cicinelli is charged with excessive force and involuntary manslaughter. Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
They have both pleaded not guilty.
Thomas's father, Ron Thomas, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, told reporters the most difficult part of the video was hearing his son call out to him for help.
He also slammed testimony from a Fullerton Fire Department paramedic who testified that the emergency workers treated the police officers for scratches and lacerations before noticing his son lying in a pool of blood.
"They were worried about band-aid scratches and not my son dying," he told KPCC radio.
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| Thomas Kelly (Victim) |
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