On Saturday protesters hit the streets demanding accountability for six Fullerton police officers who attacked Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless man, in what sounds like a gang-like beating.
The story broke late last week, after weeks of silence, when the Orange County Supervisor requested an official FBI investigation into the incident and when the Daily Mail published a story, which included a graphic photo of Thomas in the hospital.
According to witnesses, the police used the butts of their stun guns to beat Thomas until blood began squirting from his face. Police also allegedly stomped Thomas with their boots and "drop-kneed" him, crushing his throat. Thomas died days later in the hospital.
In addition to outrage over Thomas' death, this incident has called into question the ethics and practices of the Fullerton police. Fullerton residents and commenters in various web forums have made claims that the north-county city has become a police state, rife with corruption. There have been accusations of a cover-up and that the officers involved in Thomas' brutal beating are still on the streets.
One thing is clear, no one deserves to die in a gang-like stomping, and someone needs to be held accountable for this tragedy.
What do you think about what happened to Kelly Thomas and the alleged corruption of the Fullerton Police department.
Comments