With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Kelly Thomas: A look back at the police brutality case as a civil trial gets underway
Footage from a security camera that shows much of the July 5, 2011 altercation between Fullerton police officers and Kelly Thomas at the Fullerton Transportation Center.
(
Pool/Getty Images
)
A wrongful death civil trial began Monday over the death of Kelly Thomas, a homeless man known to have mental health issues who died following a violent altercation with Fullerton police in 2011.
The 2011 incident and the emotional trial that followed sparked protests and discussion about police treatment of the homeless and mentally ill in Orange County.
Attorneys will question and select jurors from a pool of approximately 120 people starting on Nov. 16. Meeting just three days a week, the civil court case is expected to last through February.
As the new trial gets underway, we offer a look back at the incident and the case that followed. KPCC's Erika Aguilar will be following the trial.
Support for LAist comes from
Timeline | Surveillance video | KPCC coverage
What happened?
On July 5, 2011, Fullerton police responded to a call reporting a man looking into the windows of parked cars at the Fullerton Transportation Center. There they found Thomas, who they suspected of trying to break into the cars.
A 34-minute, quickly-escalating altercation ended with Thomas unconscious, with several fractured ribs as well as damage to his lungs, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. He was taken off life support several days later.
Street surveillance video of the altercation between police and Thomas was a key part of the criminal trial. You can watch it below. Warning: it contains graphic images and language.
Video: Kelly Thomas surveillance video
The trial
In the criminal trial that followed, the officers who were being tried — Jay Cicinelli and Manuel Ramos — were acquitted of beating Thomas to death. Cicinelli was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and using excessive force, while Ramos was found not guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Support for LAist comes from
A third officer, Joseph Wolfe, was indicted by a grand jury, but the Orange County District Attorney's Office declined to press charges after Cicinelli and Ramos were acquitted.
All three officers were fired, but have attempted to get their jobs back.
The internal report
A confidential report from Fullerton Police's Internal Affairs Department found that the three former officers violated the department's policies when attempting to detain Thomas. The report, which was written by independent police auditors, wasn't admissible in a previous criminal trial because officers were compelled to provide testimony for the report. It became public when it was filed as evidence in the civil case.
The report said that Cicinelli violated deadly force policy when he kneed Thomas twice in the head and beat him in the face with his Taser "multiple times." Ramos and Wolfe were found to have violated policy when they used their body weight to subdue and arrest Thomas.
The Timeline
Support for LAist comes from
Have you been following this case? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, on Twitter or in the comments below.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist