Cops Saw Video of Deadly Incident With Kelly Thomas Before Writing Reports

The Los Angeles Times ^ | August 12, 2011 | Richard Winton and Abby Sewel

[Libloather]

If the police were interrogating two bank robbers, would they let them watch the bank's security video and discuss their testimony before asking them any questions?

No. That's not the way it works. The perps don't get that advantage. They probably should've thought of that before hitting the bank.

[truthkeeper]

What was that statement, (for those of us who missed it)?

Here is the youtube video clip of the entire informant's statement. They incorporated two parts into one, so in the first half you will hear his real voice and after the commercial break his voice has been disguised. If the things he says are true, it's pretty chilling.

Sorry this isn't a link, you'll have to cut and paste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxMqlRgGAno

[Libloather]

So, from now on, we can treat them as so much toilet paper, just a pack of self-serving lies, written by a slimy criminal? Cool.

If the police reports match video evidence, it doesn't get much better than that. If the reports and video conflict, that's a problem.

[KarlInOhio]

No. That's not the way it works. The perps don't get that advantage. They probably should've thought of that before hitting the bank.

Ditto for the cops. They shouldn't have the advantage of being able to adjust their testimony to match each others' stories and the physical evidence. They should have thought of that before hitting Mr. Thomas.

[truthkeeper]

I'm so sorry about the other post, it was not the audio clip that had all of the informer's statements, which he made over two separate appearances on the show.
The next url is the one in which his voice was altered. It is much longer than the first. In this one he talks about the officer with the glass eye, who is alleged to have done the majority of the beating (again, this is a cut and paste):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yo4iOWDZ9o&feature=related

[Boogieman]

“No. That’s not the way it works. The perps don’t get that advantage.”

Ah, I get it. When police officers are suspected of a crime, they get special rules and privileges. All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others?

[Libloather]

They shouldn't have the advantage...

But they do.

[Libloather]

Ah, I get it. When police officers are suspected of a crime, they get special rules and privileges.

Nope. Nothing special about it. They have evidence. The more, the better. They file reports based on that evidence. If something went wrong, I'm sure some lawyer will produce that evidence while in court.

[Ratman83]

Interesting that The Orange County district attorney's office, which is investigating Thomas' death along with the FBI, has refused to release the tape publicly, saying investigators believe it could influence witness recollections. The Fullerton police have also rejected requests to make the tape public.

Because the Orange County district attorney's office, which is investigating Thomas' death along with the FBI, has refused to release the tape publicly, saying investigators believe it could influence witness recollections. The Fullerton police have also rejected requests to make the tape public.

So which is it reviewing is good or only good for the police cover up.

[Thank You Rush]

Hi gal - Thanks for posting this. I had seen the articles regarding this just last week. I think I got an OC ping on it. It probably had been on TV here but I don’t watch much news. Incredibly sad and pretty darned stupid on the part of law enforcement. I am glad it’s not going to be swept under a rug. The young man and his family deserve justice.

[Libloather]

Because the Orange County district attorney's office, which is investigating Thomas' death along with the FBI, has refused to release the tape publicly, saying investigators believe it could influence witness recollections.

That's the best thing to happen - if your goal is to bust a few cops.

[Roccus]

If the reports match the video, I have no problem with it.

...even if the video was viewed by the LEOs before and/or during the time those reports were written?

[paul51]

No, it isn't.

It sure as hell is. It's a strategy designed to protect the wrong doers as opposed to arriving at the truth and the facts.

[Mr.Unique]

"Sometimes audio tapes or videotapes can refresh an officer's memory to what happened and then they can write about it," he said.

This goes counter to their stated reason for not showing the videos to the public. They have said they won't release them until the investigation is over because they don't want the video to bias witness statements...

The videotapes were not shown to the officers in an effort to flavor anything.

Well, of course not. </sarcasm>

[Cboldt]

-- So, from now on, we can treat them as so much toilet paper, just a pack of self-serving lies, written by a slimy criminal? --

The only time that has any value at all is when you are on a jury. Other than that, the system is designed to overwhelm you into submission, with deadly force if that is what it takes.

[Libloather]

...even if the video was viewed by the LEOs before and/or during the time those reports were written?

That is correct. Unbiased moving pictures of the scene are awfully hard to refute. What the video DOES NOT display is motive. That will be determined at a later date.

[ken21]

from what i’ve heard on kfi am 640 i doubt that the public will ever see that video.

the murder was so violent that the public will be outraged.

i heard the tape of the witnesses on the bus that saw the murder. unbelievable.

[Mr.Unique]

Reviewing it would be important.

Not a review but the subjects of the investigation. Seriously now.

[Libloather]

It's a strategy designed to protect the wrong doers as opposed to arriving at the truth and the facts.

The truth and facts will come out in court - not in your living room.

[SJSAMPLE]

So, basically a report on what they watched on television last night. Not an honest recollection of events.

No thanks.
The fix is in.