In the video, which can be seen by clicking here, O’Callaghan jabbed at Thomas’ throat with an open hand and threatened to kick her in the crotch. O’Callaghan then raised her boot and struck Thomas, whose body shook in response.
The recording captured Thomas — who asked officers for an ambulance more than 30 minutes before one was called — breathing heavily and repeatedly saying, “I can’t.”
A few minutes later, Thomas, a 35-year-old mother, lost consciousness. She later died.
A video from a dashboard camera in a different patrol car — also played during the trial — showed O’Callaghan smoking a cigarette as she peeked inside the car at Thomas, whose legs were tied with a nylon hobble restraint.
“That ain’t a good sign,” O’Callaghan said out loud in the video.
Rico told jurors that although the footage shows an “ugly” scene, his client’s use of force was “reasonable, justified and necessary.” Thomas wasn’t complying with the officers’ orders, he said.
Immediately after the verdict, Rico told reporters that he planned to file a motion for a new trial, saying he believed jurors had based their decision on emotions — and his client’s profanity captured on camera — not on evidence. At the time, Rico described O’Callaghan as far from callous, saying she often bought Halloween costumes and Christmas presents for children in local housing projects.
“Mary O’Callaghan is today — and was — the type of officer that goes above and beyond, not only for her fellow officers but also for the community,” Rico told reporters last month.
Thomas was pronounced dead at a hospital after her July 22, 2012, arrest, which came after officers arrived at her home to investigate claims that she had abandoned her two children by dropping them off at a police station.
O’Callaghan, who did not testify in the trial, was not charged in connection with Thomas’ death.
An autopsy by the Los Angeles County coroner determined that cocaine intoxication was likely “a major factor” in Thomas’ death. It wasn’t possible to determine what role, if any, the struggle with the officers played in her death. The official cause of death was listed as “undetermined.”
[…] goodblacknews A Los Angeles police officer was sentenced to 36 months in jail Thursday for assaulting a South […]
How is good news?
*How is this good news?
Because so many law enforcement officers abuse their power, especially against people of color, but in this case, there is a modicum of justice involved. The officer was convicted and has to serve time for her criminal action.
Modicum is a good word to use. But less than a year in jail for murder? I see your points but it’s kind of a slap in the face.
And we understand your frustration, but in this case (unlike Freddie Gray’s,) they were unable to prove that the assault perpetrated directly caused or contributed to Ms. Thomas’ death.
A black woman dies in custody and a police officer serves time for “assault under color of authority,” simply does not fit my definition of news.Instead it exacerbates the gap between minority and authority. So far as I can tell the actions of the all the people involved contributed to that widening gap.Shouldn’t any good news at least support and encourage the views that “black lives matter and all lives matter” are mutually complementary, not mutually exclusive?.
Reblogged this on wiseoldsnail.