I’ve intentionally held off from writing about the verdict delivered in the killing of Kelly Thomas because I wanted to think about what the jurors’ decision means.
Thomas was a thirty-seven year old homeless man diagnosed with schizophrenia who lived on the streets of Fullerton, California. The police approached him after a business owner complained that someone in the area was vandalizing parked cars. The police claimed Thomas resisted when they tried to search him. At that point, they called for backup and decided to cuff him.
Part of the reason why this tragedy has outraged mental health advocates is because much of what happened was captured on video. You can hear the officer’s exchange with Thomas.
“Now you see my fists?” Fullerton police officer Manny Ramos asks Thomas while slipping on a pair of latex gloves.
“Yeah, what about them?” Thomas responds.
“They are getting ready to f*** you up,” said Ramos.