Two California police officers, Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli, who were videotaped in a violent struggle with a man during an arrest, were found not guilty of all four charges, ranging from murder to excessive use of force in the 2011 death of Kelly Thomas, The Associated Press reported.
"It was a rare case in which police officers were charged in a death involving actions on duty. One of the officer had been charged with murder. Jurors took less than two days to reach their verdicts," The AP also reported.
Key evidence was released during the trial, in which Thomas had been "struggling with six police officers, who hit, kneed and jolted him with an electric stun gun as he was on the ground, calling out for his father over and over again," The AP also reported. Thomas died five days after the beating.
Former Fullerton police Officer Ramos was acquitted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 2011 death of Thomas. Former Cpl. Cicinelli was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force, according to The AP
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus, who tried the case himself, said after the verdicts that charges will be dropped against Joseph Wolfe, a third officer awaiting trial.
"All of us need to be very afraid now," Rob Thomas, the victim's father said. "Police officers everywhere can beat us, kill us, whatever they want, but it has been proven right here today they'll get away with it. Inside, we're all just torn up ... It hurts, it hurts really, really bad," he said.
John Barnett, Ramos' attorney, conversely, said that jurors did their duty
"These peace officers were doing their jobs," he said. "They were operating as they were trained, and they had no malice in their hearts," Barnett said.
"With the conclusion of the state court trial, investigators will examine the evidence and testimony to determine whether further investigation is warranted at the federal level," said Laura Eimiller, the FBI's spokeswoman in Los Angeles.
"The video began with Ramos stopping Thomas on July 5, 2011, after the officer answered a call about a disheveled man jiggling the handles of car doors in a busy transit center parking lot," The AP reported.
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