Category: The Crime Beat

Posted onNationwide

Kelly Thomas Story Stirring Worldwide Outrage?

by 52 Comments on Kelly Thomas Story Stirring Worldwide Outrage?

Now we’re getting some traction. The story of a homeless man beaten to death by the Fullerton police seems to be attracting some significant attention outside of our own little town.

The infamous Gawker (7 million monthly readers)
Police Beat ‘Gentle’ Homeless, Mentally Ill Man to Death

Across the pond in the Daily Mail (72 million monthly readers)
Caught on tape: Police beat and taser ‘gentle’ mentally-ill homeless man to death

Philip DeFranco Show (one million daily viewers)
July 27, 2011 Show

Huffington Post
Police Beat Homeless Fullerton Man Kelly Thomas To Death


I’ll keep this post up to date as coverage expands.

Read More
Posted onSetting The Bar Low

A Case of Mistaken Identity? Yeah, Right.

by 69 Comments on A Case of Mistaken Identity? Yeah, Right.

This image was included in a story at Fullerton Stories here and purports to be a 2009 police booking photo of recent Fullerton homicide victim Kelly Thomas that was, presumably, provided by the ever helpful FPD spokehole Andrew Goodrich. Well, this is certainly a scary looking dude: pretty buff and mangy, and sufficiently angry-looking to scare the good folks of Fullerton right back into complacency about the homicide of a mentally-ill homeless man.

The only trouble is that it isn’t Kelly Thomas at all. His parents say this isn’t their son. But we don’t need their expert opinion. Apart from a large nose that is completely different from every other picture of Thomas, Kelly’s hair was flaming red, a simple fact illustrated in every other picture of him in the Fullerton Stories piece.

My powers of observation are really stunning. And if you don't agree I'll have you stunned.

So what gives? Is this just a cheapjack trick by Goodrich & Co. to degrade the victim by presenting Kelly Thomas as a surly, muscular threat to Fullerton’s delicate residents? If so, the Fullerton Police Department has actually hit a new low, and given recent events that’s pretty goddam hard for them to do. But it’s just when you think you’ve hit the FPD basement you find out there are even lower levels.

I will await a comical explanation from the Good Sergeant Goodrich, but of course I won’t be holding my breath.

Read More
Posted onThe Crime Beat

Unsolved Mysteries: Two Fullerton Cops Suddenly Put on Paid Leave

by 40 Comments on Unsolved Mysteries: Two Fullerton Cops Suddenly Put on Paid Leave

In response to a public records request, the FPD’s Professional Standards Bureau just told us:

Officer “H” was placed on administrative leave on July 8th, 2011. As of the last pay period ending July 22nd, the total salary for officer “H” is $3015.36

Officer “I” was placed on administrative leave on July 10th, 2011. As of the last pay period ending July 22nd, the total salary for officer “I” is $2871.76.

So now the big question is…were these officers involved in the Kelly Thomas beating?

Perhaps you maybe be able to help solve... nevermind.

We’re not allowed to know the answer to that. But we do know that one of those leaves began three days after the event, and the other went into effect on the Sunday that Kelly Thomas was removed from life support.

For the record, these were the 8th and 9th Fullerton police officers to be put on paid leave pending an internal investigation in the past three years. Those nine officers earned a total of $227,595.92 for not working.

Read More
Posted onBehind Closed Doors

So What’s The DA Up To?

by 50 Comments on So What’s The DA Up To?
See that guy over there? We couldn't locate him.

I’ve just heard from Mark Turgeon, an eye witness in the Kelly Thomas police beating death that he has NOT been contacted by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. You may remember that the District Attorney is supposed to be investigating the horrific incident.

Since the event happened almost three weeks ago, this is rather disturbing. This individual was immediately questioned by Fullerton police so there is no reason that the DA doesn’t have the ability to follow up with a crucial witness.

You may remember that the Coroner has already said that the cause of death is uncertain.

So what gives?

 

 

Read More
Posted onDowntown Fullerton

Saturday: Protest At The Police Station

by 24 Comments on Saturday: Protest At The Police Station

FFFF Friend Andy Anderson has organized a second protest that’s scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on the corner of Highland and Commonwealth in Fullerton.

If you can, bring a poster board and make a sign on site. This is your opportunity to send your own personal message to the FPD letting them know what you think of the brutal killing of a local homeless man named Kelly Thomas.

There is a Facebook page to help organize the event.

Read More
Posted onThe Crime Beat

The FPD Lie: Broken Bones. Nope.

by 47 Comments on The FPD Lie: Broken Bones. Nope.

The Fullertonian is reporting that the officers who got into a “scuffle” with Kelly Thomas did NOT suffer from broken bones, as erroneously reported in news broadcasts.

So where did this lie come from? Well, we know that FPD spokesman Andrew Goodrich fed that line to Matt Coker of the OCWeekly, as indicated in his July 7th article on the incident. So it’s safe to assume that Goodrich squeaked that one to the rest of the media outlets as well.

Of course Goodrich let the lie float around for two weeks while he ran damage control for the invisible chief.

Read More
Posted onBruce Whitaker

Whitaker Says “Release the Video!”

by 29 Comments on Whitaker Says “Release the Video!”

FullertonStories.com just published this letter from councilmember Bruce Whitaker, in which he demands that the video and audio recordings of the July 5th police beating of Kelly Thomas be released to the public.

Read the letter

Don’t forget to check out the printed responses of the other councilmembers, including McKinley who says “I disagree with that last sentence about releasing the video.  It isn’t a wise thing to do and is for the authorities to do.”

What does that mean?

Read More