Cops are always good, aren't they??

[no1_vern]

Newly-Released Surveillance Video Shows Police Officers Brutally Beating, Suffocating, and Tasing Kelly Thomas to Death - Reason.com

Orange County DA finally released security footage of the brutal beating death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a homeless man from Fullerton, California.

Two police officers, Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli, are now on trial for the killing of Thomas, who suffered from schizophrenia. Cops used their fists and batons to beat Thomas. They Tasered him multiple times. Cause of death was apparently "mechanical suppression of the thorax."

I know what you are going to say. "Its good they got rid of this person before he got a chance to cost more taxpayers money."

[tony_j15]

Makes me sick.

[Steve R Jones]

I know what you are going to say. "Its good they got rid of this person before he got a chance to cost more taxpayers money."

I wouldn't say that. BUT, since you wrote it, you must think its a good idea.

[Epidemic]

How should this have gone down?

I am not sure how the cops were supposed to subdue him? 6 of em were having difficulty in controling the situation.

I am not saying the cops were right. But I also do not see a gung ho bunch of guys in a joy beating.

what was he being brought in for?

[tony_j15]

what was he being brought in for?

He wasn't being "brought in" for anything. There was a report of someone vandalizing cars in the area. They happened upon Kelly Thomas and attempted to search him without cause. He resisted. He was a diagnosed schizophrenic. Normal behavior was beyond his control. Police officers should be trained to recognize this. Instead, they beat him to death.

I am not sure how the cops were supposed to subdue him?

I hesitate to say "it's easy" but the most logical course of action is to tackle him, pin him by the neck to control movement, and throw the cuffs on him.
It was also completely unneccesarry to subdue him since he was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.

I also do not see a gung ho bunch of guys in a joy beating.

I sure as hell don't see a group of officers living by the motto "to serve and to protect." Do you?

The bottom line is no one should be defending the actions of these pigs. There is zero justification for them.

[Epidemic]

according to the forensics he was not killed by the beating he was killed by the subduing. Manual suppression of the thorax. As we can clearly see this guy was not able to be cuffed for more than 8 minutes.

As for the facial damage that is so shocking I don't know how that happened. Could some of that happend due to his drug induced state. Not reacting to pain normally as he tried using his face for leverage on the concrete and asphault.

Dude I don't know if the cops were right I am even inclined to say they weren't. The video was obscured during much of the altercation, But I saw 6 heafty cops that did not seem able to control or subdue this guy. I would like to know whether or not he was cuffed much earlier than when they finally got off him.

I understand he was nutz, and he was innocent of vandalizing But that is what the cops were trying to assertain. Being nutz is probably the real problem here. Cops are not mental health professionals nor should they be.

How would you suggest cops work into their routine as to how to deal with an insane person? Is there a 5 step guide on the subject of how to deal with someone who they suspect might be ailing from one of a million mental disorders.

I will say this there are many times off camera frame that the guy does seem to submit. So the cops are probably in the wrong but I don't know if he was cuffed or not by then or just struggling while wimpering.

[tony_j15]

according to the forensics he was not killed by the beating he was killed by the subduing. Manual suppression of the thorax.

It's stupid to separate the two. If he had not been beaten and if his throat wasn't swollen and full of blood, he may have survived the "manual suppression of the thorax." In other words, he was held down and throttled until he choked on his own blood and suffocated.

As for the facial damage that is so shocking I don't know how that happened.

Gee, maybe it had something to do with him being beaten?!?!? Epi, I know you aren't stupid. Stop acting like it.

Could some of that happend due to his drug induced state. Not reacting to pain normally as he tried using his face for leverage on the concrete and asphault.

What drugs? Where the hell are you getting that from? Why the hell would you say that? The toxicology report found no drugs or alcohol in his system.
C'mon, Epi. I know you aren't stupid. Stop acting like it.

[SoloCamo]

Makes me sick.

Couldn't agree more. We've had major problems down in the tampa area in regards to homeless beatings, it's sad to see the cops take part in it, too.

Dude I don't know if the cops were right I am even inclined to say they weren't. The video was obscured during much of the altercation, But I saw 6 heafty cops that did not seem able to control or subdue this guy. I would like to know whether or not he was cuffed much earlier than when they finally got off him.

I understand he was nutz, and he was innocent of vandalizing But that is what the cops were trying to assertain. Being nutz is probably the real problem here. Cops are not mental health professionals nor should they be.

How would you suggest cops work into their routine as to how to deal with an insane person? Is there a 5 step guide on the subject of how to deal with someone who they suspect might be ailing from one of a million mental disorders.

Then those six hefty cops need to be released of their duty. There is a serious problem in training if six cannot hold one man down, regardless of what he may be on. (which is sad it was assumed he was high or drunk like most people wrongly assume about the homeless)

Unless I somehow missed a gun in the story? But we all know if that was the case the guy would have been riddled with bullet holes.