One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
'He committed no crime,' Says Lawyer of Cop Charged With Kelly Thomas' Murder
Ramos' mugshot (Courtesy OC DA)
The attorney representing Fullerton Officer Manuel Ramos says his client was just doing his job and "committed no crime," when it comes to the death of Kelly Thomas, the homeless man beaten by cops during a violent confrontation. Yesterday, the Orange County District Attorney announced that Ramos and one other Fullerton policeman, Cpl. Jay Cicinelli, would face criminal charges in Thomas' death.
Thomas died of severe brain trauma and other physical injuries sustained while Ramos, Cicinelli, and other policemen attempted to subdue the mentally ill man at a local transit center.
Relatives of the accused are also chiming in, urging that the public not condemn Ramos unless he is found guilty by the court, reports ABC7.
Ramos' attorney, John Barnett explains his client's innocence:
"He was confronted with a suspect who was combative and refused to comply with his lawful order. He was non-compliant, resisted and set these tragic events in motion. To charge a peace officer with murder under these circumstances is unprecedented and just wrong."
OC DA Tony Rackauckas says Ramos was the instigator of the confrontation with Thomas, and that he willfully inflicted the blows that ultimately led to his death. Rackauckas describes evidence detailing Ramos informing Thomas he was about to "eff him up," ahead of the brutal beating.
Ramos will be arraigned Monday on one felony count of second degree murder and one felony count of involuntary manslaughter. He is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail. Cicinelli pleaded not guilty Wednesday, and was released on bail.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
