A homeless man beaten to death by the police.
There's video from the LA Times of the entire incident.
There's video from people watching on Youtube.
And here's a picture of Mr. Thomas lying comatose in the hospital before his death.
Gruesome.
One version of the events has a local restaurant calling police to report 'someone' vandalising cars. The restaurant employees deny any vandalism. There are no police reports of vandalism. Seems the restaurant's owner had a beef with loitering. Especially by our society's version of the 'untouchable caste,' the mentally ill and homeless citizen.
So the police were called. They found a homeless, shirtless, mentally ill man. Having no reason to detain him other than the alleged vandalism, Kelly Thomas is briefly detained. During the early moments of his detention, he sits quietly. Waiting.
Then a cop comes over, using the very best of body language and the verbal skills taught in every police academy.
"See my fists? They're about to fuck you up!"
Mr. Thomas boldly replies, So do it!
And six police officers later, Mr. Thomas is lying in a pool of blood. Three police officers are sitting on his chest.
They justify the beating by saying over and over, the man is on something. He's going to get violent again when you try to get him up. Followed by, "Hey! What's your name? Hey! What's your name?"
After screaming, what's your name and getting no answer, someone ask, "Is he breathing?" 'Oh yeah. He's breathing. See ---- going up and down? He's breathing.'
Machines would breathe for Mr. Thomas over a period of five days. Until the plugs are pulled.
So what do you think, World? Excessive force. Murder. Or justifiable use of reasonable force.
