Fullerton – The father of a homeless man tasered and beaten in a scuffle with Fullerton police says he is worn out by his fight to get justice for his dead son.
He and his ex-wife revisited the scene where it all happened with FOX 11′s Chris Blatchford.
Story Script:
CATHY THOMAS SAYS SHE VISITS THIS SPOT ALMOST EVERYDAY.
A SMALL CURBSIDE MEMORIAL TO HER DEAD SON WHO DIED 5-DAYS AFTER AN ALTERCATION HERE WITH FULLERTON POLICE.
37-YEAR OLD KELLY THOMAS WAS A SCHIZOPHRENIC WHO CHOSE TO LIVE ON THE STREETS, BUT RON THOMAS, HIS FATHER, SAYS HIS SON WASN’T REALLY HOMELESS.
RON THOMAS/FATHER
“The network of friends, relatives, everything, everyone knew where he was at all times. My daughter hit it perfect, he wasn’t homeless at all. He had many many homes. He was a drifter. That’s what he chose to do. The schizophrenia mind, I’m learning that. That’s what they like to do and he did, he drifted from place to place to place.”
HIS MOTHER SAYS SHE USED TO TAKE HIM TO LUNCH AT A TRAIN STATION NEAR HERE.
NOW SHE FINDS THE NOTES, PICTURES, AND MEMENTOS WELL-WISHERS HAVE LEFT COMFORTING.
CATHY THOMAS/MOTHER
“It helps me a lot to know people knew him. People knew how kind he was and he didn’t beg for money. He says mostly he just asked for a cigarette, ya know. He was a good kid. He didn’t deserve to die like this.”
SHE SAYS HE WAS A PERSON, A HUMAN BEING.
THE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THIS VIGIL SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO… AND THOSE WHO SHOWED THEIR OUTRAGE AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT… TOUCH HER DEEPLY.
MRS. THOMAS SAYS IT’S OVERWHELMING TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO CARED FOR HER SON.