2 police officers charged in death of Calif man
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) Prosecutors charged one police officer with murder and another with manslaughter Cheap Short Wedding Dresses Wednesday in the killing of an unarmed, mentally ill homeless man who was pummeled, shocked with a Taser and slammed with the butt of a stun gun in replica christian louboutin a beating that lasted nearly 10 minutes.
Fullerton Officer Manuel Ramos was charged with one count each of second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of 37 year old Kelly Thomas after a violent confrontation with officers on July 5, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said at a news conference.
A review of the evidence, including audio from the officers' body microphones and surveillance video, showed Cheap Wedding Dresses Thomas was acting "in self defense, in pain and in a state of panic," Rackauckas said.
"His numerous pleas of 'I'm sorry,' 'I can't breathe,' 'Help Dad' (were) all to no avail. Screams, loud screams, didn't help," the prosecutor said.
Lorie Fridell, an associate professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, said it is highly unusual for a police officer to be charged with murder.
"It is quite appropriate in such cases to hold officers to account," Fridell said. He was shirtless and wearing just a backpack as Ramos made a show of putting on Latex gloves before ordering him to put Cheap High-Low Prom Dresses his hands on his knees.
"He made two fists with his gloves on, two fists. He lifted his fists Cheap Ball Gown Prom Dresses in front of Cheap Bridesmaid Dresses Kelly Thomas so he could see them and he said, 'Now see my fists? They are getting ready to (expletive) you up,'" Rackauckas said. "That's when it went from a fairly routine investigation, a fairly routine police detention, to an impending beating by an angry police officer."
Ramos allegedly swung his baton at Thomas but it was unclear if he hit him. The prosecutor said Ramos then chased Thomas, eventually punching him in his ribs and tackling him before holding down his neck and laying on top of Thomas to pin him down.
The coroner listed the cause of death as mechanical compression of the thorax, which made it impossible for Thomas to breathe normally and deprived his brain of oxygen, Rackauckas said. Other injuries to the face and head contributed to the death, the prosecutor said.
Cicinelli, who arrived on the scene later, kneed Thomas twice in the head and used a Taser four times on him as he screamed and yelled in pain, Rackauckas said, adding that Cicinelli hit Thomas in the face eight times with the Taser, and Thomas didn't respond.
"When Kelly didn't scream in response to these blows it should have indicated to Cicinelli that Kelly was down and seriously hurt," he said.
FILE This 1998 family photo provided by the Thomas family on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 shows Kelly T a longtime prosecutor known for his strong backing of law enforcement, said it was the first time he had filed charges against police officers for excessive force leading to death.
"Police officers have a right to use reasonable force in the performance of a lawful duty but citizens have a right to self Cheap Short Prom Dresses 2015 defense, even against the police," he said.
Ron Thomas, Kelly Thomas' father, cheered as he watched the prosecutor's news conference on TV with a group of supporters. He later said he was pleased with the charges.
"That's exactly what I hoped for," he said in a phone interview. "It makes me feel fantastic that this is happening, it's the justice we need."
Still, he said he suffers every day as a result of his son's death.
Ramos' attorney, John Barnett, said the charges were unfounded and disputed Rackauckas' accounts of events. Thomas violently Cheap Beach Wedding Dresses resisted arrest by kicking and swinging at officers, he said, adding that he had seen the same video cited by the prosecutor.
Ron Thomas, right, father of Kelly Thomas, answers questions for the media as his wife Cheap Long Prom Dresses Dana Pape and response to claims that Ramos put on latex gloves and told Thomas he was going to hurt him, Barnett characterized his client's attempt to get compliance as "the lowest type of force."
"It was an attempt by the officer to use words not force to get the suspect to do what he's supposed to do," Barnett said. "He sought to avoid physical confrontation with words. There was no compliance by Mr. Thomas."
Bill Hadden, an attorney representing Cicinelli, didn't immediately return a call for comment. A call to a home number for Ramos rang unanswered.
Arraignment was scheduled later Wednesday.
Six officers were placed on Cheap Plus Size Wedding Dresses paid administrative leave after the incident that occurred while police were investigating reported vehicle break ins at a transit hub. The other officers were not charged Wednesday and were not expected to be charged.
Thomas suffered severe head and neck injuries and was taken off life support five Cheap Sexy Prom Dresses days after the incident.
Ron Thomas, father of Kelly Thomas, answers questions for the media outside the Orange County Distri suffered from schizophrenia and lived on the streets even though he received support from family and friends.
Police said christianlouboutinreplica.org Thomas ran when officers tried to search his bag and a struggle followed when they tried to arrest him for investigation of possession of stolen goods.
Video from a bystander's cell phone taken from a distance showed parts of the bloody encounter in which Thomas can be heard screaming for his father.
Surveillance video aboard a bus showed agitated passengers telling the driver that officers beat and repeatedly used a stun gun during the arrest.