Friends For Fullerton's Future
FFFF supports causes that promote intelligent, responsible and accountable government in Fullerton and Orange County
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.
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?
There is a protest happening right NOW in front of the Fullerton police station. Demonstrators say they will be here until those responsible for the death of Kelly Thomas are brought to justice. Come on down and join us.
Here’s an explanation from Ron Thomas, the former sheriff’s deputy who’s son was beaten to death by Fullerton police last week.
Awhile back Grover Cleveland posted on how the Fullerton City Council’s creation of a mess downtown led to the rise of an FPD goon squad to quell the crime wave. The only problem was that the FPD goon squad added to the crime wave. Here’s a reminder. An innocent bystander is beat up and arrested. Later he is tried for assaulting a cop to which Fullerton cops Kenton Hampton and Framk Nguyen swear in a court of law. Only problem is it didn’t happen, but that didn’t stop the FPD and the DA from trying to put an innocent man in prison.
Watch this FFFF interview of Mark Turgeon, who says he witnessed the beating to death of Kelly Thomas by Fullerton police on July 5, 2011.
Here are the notable claims:
Wow, this seems like a long time ago. Still nothing posted on line.
I just met with Ron Thomas, father of deceased Kelly Thomas, at the Fullerton Transportation Center. He and his daughter were posting fliers around the Fullerton Sante Fe train depot & OCTA bus terminal in the hopes of talking to witnesses that were present on the night his son was brutally beaten to death.
For all those who care, there is a candlelight vigil tonight at the Fullerton Transportation Center at 7:00 pm.
Ron Thomas did say that the entire deadly beating of his son by six cops was caught on the city’s camera (the same camera that we reported on here two days ago.) Ron also said that the police will not let him look at the video to see what happened to his son.
According to ABC News, Kelly Thomas, who was beaten into a comatose state by Fullerton police last week has been taken off life support, and is dead.
Police claim that they responded to a call that someone was breaking into cars at the Transportation Center. According to police a spokesman “probably” six police officers eventually became involved in what they allege was a combative Thomas. His father, a former County Sheriff’s Deputy, says his son’s head was beaten into an unrecognizable state; other witnesses has said the man was Tasered multiple times.
Will anybody in a position of authority in Fullerton do the right thing and demand a full and independent outside inquiry into this homicide? Don’t hold your breath, Friends.
We heard that Tuesday’s beating of a homeless man to near-death by Fullerton police may have been within range of one of the city’s surveillance cameras at the Fullerton Transportation Center…and so we sent our camera man over to check it out:
It looks like the camera had a clear shot of the bloody event. I suppose that if there is a tape, we won’t get to see it unless it exonerates the cops who were involved.
On the other hand, damning evidence will be held tightly by the city so as not to embarrass anyone or facilitate the requisite citizen outrage.
All the public can do is ask and see what happens.
Even so, the last resort in the quest for transparency would lie with our elected councilmembers, who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of the public and can demand to see the recording for themselves.
