(Kelly Thomas) Homeless man's dad plans to sue over fatal injuries in police custody

[alp227]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- A man whose homeless, schizophrenic son died last month from injuries sustained in police custody told CNN on Thursday that he turned down a $900,000 settlement offer from the city of Fullerton, California, and intends to sue.

In an interview Thursday with CNN's Randi Kaye, Ron Thomas claimed he had resisted hiring an attorney because he didn't want to be inhibited from being "a voice for my son."

I didn't want interference from attorneys saying, 'I don't want you saying that, we'll speak for you,'" he said, but now realizes that "I do need an attorney for this, and I've been talking to some."

Kelly Thomas, 37, was taken off life support on July 10, five days after he was shocked repeatedly with a stun gun, beaten with flashlights, kicked and hog-tied by six police officers, witnesses told local media. On a cell-phone video taken by a bystander, a person in apparent distress can be heard shouting, "Dad! Dad! Dad!" during the incident.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/04/california.homeless.death.father/index.html

[demosincebirth]

1. Those cops should be tried for murder.! How sad. R.I.P Kelly Thomas.

[glinda]

2. Indeed very very sad story.

[blkmusclmachine]

3. .

:thumbsup:

[zonkers]

4. Orange County Cop have been known to stomp on heads.

Hope he collects bigtime

[naaman fletcher]

5. another "isolated" incident. nt.