Police Brutally Beat Mentally Ill California Man in Released Video [View all]

Source: OCWeekly / Raw Story

Police brutally beat mentally ill California man in released video

By Stephen C. Webster
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:20 EDT

Video revealing the circumstances of how a mentally ill homeless man in Fullerton, Calif. died last July was finally published Monday, revealing a stunningly brutal police assault that left Kelly Thomas bleeding, broken and near death.

In the video, one of the officers can be heard telling Thomas, who was schizophrenic, “See my fists? They’re getting ready to start fucking you up.” When he doesn’t immediately comply and instead stands up, another officer charges in and hits him with a baton, and a scuffle ensues.

For the next approximately eight minutes, Thomas is pinned by the two officers, then up to as many as four more arrive and pile on. As Thomas pleads for mercy and complains that he cannot breathe, he’s tased and punched repeatedly. The treatment continues until Thomas’s cries morph into inaudible grunts and moans.

He was comatose after the beating, and died five days later after being taken off life support. Needless to say, the video is not for the faint of heart.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/08/mentally-ill-california-man-brutally-beaten-by-police-in-released-video/