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Kelly Thomas' Father Sues Fullerton on Anniversary of His Son's Death
Kelly Thomas' father is suing the city of Fullerton on the the first anniversary of his son's death after a struggle with the city's police.
The lawsuit filed by Kelly's father Ron Thomas alleges assault and battery, negligence, wrongful death and civil rights violations, according to City News Service. The suit says that Thomas' death "was the inevitable result of the culture of corruption and deliberate indifference within the city of Fullerton Police Department. The city has a long history of ignoring its officers' abusive practices and is deliberately indifferent to the violations of constitutional rights resulting from the city's customs, practices and policies."
It goes on to say that the city "condones its police officers' aggressive practices of arresting citizens without probable cause, using 'cover up' offenses such as 'resisting arrest' or 'drunk in public' and using arrests as punishment for citizens' exercise of their First Amendment rights, which its officers instead perceive as 'contempt of cop.'"
Acting Police Chief Dan Hughes declined comment to CNS. The city's attorney Dana Fox, also declined comment to CNS, because he said he had not had a chance to review the lawsuit.
The city, former Police chiefs Michael Sellers and Patrick McKinley, officers Manuel Ramos, Joseph Wolfe, Jay Cicinelli, Kenton Hampton, James Blatney and Sgt. Kevin Craig are all named in the suit. The lawsuit does not request specific damages, Thomas' attorney Garo Mardirossian told CNS.
Related:
Graphic Video of Police Beating Kelly Thomas Shown in Court
Officer Charged in Kelly Thomas' Death Being Held in Isolation
Kelly Thomas' Father Speaks Out, Shares Disturbing Image of Son's Beaten Face
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