(Image Source: Forbes)
BY LEXA DECKERT
ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
You're watching multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy.
A community is on edge in Fullerton, California after video has surfaced of an altercation between police and a homeless man. KTLA reports.
MAN: “They killed him...”
REPORTER: “New video tonight shows witnesses describe what happened during a deadly altercation between a man and Fullerton police. The death of Kelly Thomas is raising plenty of questions from the community. Now new bus video reveals there were plenty of witnesses that actually saw the entire altercation...
WOMAN: “They were pulling his hair, kicking the shit out of him. And he’s all full of blood.”
The clash took place on July 5 but the video is just being released now. There is also a video where you can hear -- but not see -- the interaction.
“Ahhh.. Dad help me...”
But Fullerton police say -- extreme measures were necessary. The LA Times has details...
“...officers responded to reports that a man was trying to get into cars parked near a bus depot on South Pomona Avenue... When officers arrived at the scene, they found 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man... Police said Thomas tried to run after officers searched his backpack and found items that weren’t his. They called in additional officers when he continued to resist, and the scene continued to escalate as witnesses watched.”
Thomas was taken to the hospital with serious injuries -- he fell into a coma and died less than a week later. Regardless of what police have said -- Thomas’ father and much of the community are upset -- ABC reports...
“The Fullerton police are cooperating with both county and federal investigations into this incident. They say two of their officers suffered broken bones from what happened -- but the public and Thomas’ family -- they’re outraged. They believe Thomas was brutally beaten to death.”
Thomas’ father -- a retired deputy sheriff -- thinks the police need to be held accountable. KTTV interviewed him...
“Well what absolutely needs to happen is -- if you or I did this we’d go to prison for murder -- that’s exactly what needs to happen to these group of rogue officers -- they need to go to prison for murder."
Thomas’ father has been offered $900,000 to settle any civil claims against the city, but has denied the money.
Follow @Newsy_Videos on Twitter
Get more multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy
Transcript by Newsy
 |  |  |  |
