Monday, August 1, 2011

Fatal Police Beating of Homeless Man Roils Fullerton

A Southern California City Council member is demanding that six Fullerton police officers involved in the fatal take down of a homeless suspect be put on leave. Sharon Quirk-Silva demanded the city manager remove the officers from street duty until a thorough investigation into the July 5th incident in which 37 year-old Kelly Thomas was critically injured is complete. Witnesses say Thomas was ruthlessly beaten. His family removed him from life support a few days later. Quirk-Silva intends to bring the matter up during a city council motion on Tuesday night. Over the weekend, hundreds of people attended a rally against police brutality and a candlelight vigil.
Pacifica’s Ernesto Arce has files this report from Southern California.