Feds Drop Case Against Kelly Thomas Officers

Federal prosecutors have decided not to pursue civil rights charges against the three former Fullerton Police officers involved in the death of Kelly Thomas, who was homeless and suffered from mental illness.

A U.S. Department of Justice spokesman confirmed the case was closed last week.

Two of the former officers, Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicanelli, were acquitted of state criminal charges in 2014. Charges were dropped against a third former officer, Joseph Wolfe.

All were fired from the Fullerton Police Department.

Thomas died several days after he was involved in a confrontation with the officers near a Metrolink station in 2011.

Security video from the station - later synced with audio from the officers' audio recorders - showed Thomas was screaming for help as the officers hit and kicked him.

Thomas' father Ron told the Orange County Register he wasn't surprised by the U.S. Attorney's Office decision.

"I didn't have much faith in it at all," Thomas said.

-- Eric Leonard (@LeonardFiles)


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