OCDA Just Threw Us ALL Under The bus.....WTF ???!!

[lavgrunt]

During the Kelly Thomas news conference, Ruckaukus basically gave every criminal in OC the 'green light' to resist arrest..............

Nice job, Tony !!!...........You friggin' tool...........

Be careful out there guys...........And as always, do whats right and honorable..........

[18sam2011]

Yes, I am disgusted by his 17 minute press conference.

[TrailerparkTrash]

What I don't like is the fact that he basically tried the two officers by MEDIA! Evidence hasn't even been presented and he's thrown out any chance of a fair trial.

I know someone here will chime in saying I'm protecting "dirty cops." Not true. If those cops laid themselves out, so be it. They'll get what's comming to them IF.... it's proven in court that they are truely guilty of the charges.

All I'm saying is that it was 100% COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE for a D.A. to put ANYONE (cop or civilian) on "media trial" like he did. That was horse C$@*!!!!

I hope he gets called out on the carpet and I hope there's a jury pool in California that wasn't swayed one way or the other by the disgusting DA's "pre trial" comments. His comments to the media and world was only meant to inflame the criminal justice system for this particular case. I can see a private defense attorney or the civilian accusers doing a press conference and attacking their attackers. However, a PUBLIC OFFICIAL such as a D.A or Judge should NEVER make public statements against any accused person until AFTER a jury comes back and renders their verdict.

[mille806]

What ramos did may have been wrong we will find out after the trial. but what the DA did was definately wrong he ruined any chance of fair trial he rendered a verdict to the media what an incompetent

[Bobby Hated]

isnt it SOP for LE agencies to decry a suspect's guilt in front of the media after charges are filed? the only difference is its a LEO being charged this time.

i have no reservations about ramos' guilt in this case with the facts that we know now. defending LEO's who break the law is a no win proposition in my book. bad cops get good cops killed.

we must honor those who serve... and those who serve must serve with honor.

[Samuelx]

I left a message for him via the OCDA website a couple of days ago - asking someone to please remind him of 834a PC...

[r3dn3ck]

no license for criminal acts was given. What was given out was words saying that UNLAWFUL acts by LE are something we can LEGALLY resist. So, in OP's own words, do what's right and honorable and you're covered. The detainee still has to answer for any unlawful resistance when all is said and done.

I don't know about you but I find it difficult to not know I'm beating someone to death so you know what, yeah, the DA SHOULD call em' on it in the media. Tell the people that he represents that he's convinced of the guilt of the offenders and promise to do his best to obtain a conviction from a jury. They broke the rules and they broke a sacred trust and they get to burn for it. Nobody told every crook in town to kick and flail when they get pulled out of their bimmer for DUI. (Really what it says to me is if some flatfoot is being a DB and using color of law to violate my rights, I'll be within my rights to resist his little butt till he makes me rich).

And he's saying that 834a doesn't apply when the officers actions are ILLEGAL. I will grant that what needs to be done is 834a to be amended to say such things but codification by precedent in the legal system will do just fine.

[Notorious]

What happened?

[ocmsrzr]

I see your 834(a) PC and raise you Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242...

[tyrist]

What is worse is the other Fullerton Cops who are getting followed home on a daily basis by people now. I feel sorry for everyone else in that department; tough times are ahead for them and the majority did nothing wrong.

[Briancnelson]

All he stated was a basic principle of common law. A citizen always has the right to self defense against illegal acts on his person. If a cop is engaged in unlawful activity outside the scope of his duties, that should apply to him too.

If he's in the scope of his duties, and behaving in anything approaching a reasonable fashion, he'll get the benefit of the doubt, and the protection of the law.

Don't beat anyone for 8 minutes until they die when they aren't really resisting, crush their chest cavity, break every bone in their face, tase them 4 times, and keep beating them after they are unconscious, and you should have nothing to worry about. Oh yeah and did I mention the victim was mentally challenged and the first officer on the scene knew that?

You'll note the other 4 cops who didn't engage in totally over the top behavior weren't charged.

The DA gave a measured and legally well thought out reasoning for his charges, that is supported by overwhelming evidence.

This is no reason to panic for honest cops who behave with any kind of reason in their arrests.

[Samuelx]

I see your 834(a) PC and raise you Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242...

apples and oranges

[Samuelx]

All he stated was a basic principle of common law. A citizen always has the right to self defense against illegal acts on his person. If a cop is engaged in unlawful activity outside the scope of his duties, that should apply to him too.

Agreed.

If he's in the scope of his duties, and behaving in anything approaching a reasonable fashion, he'll get the benefit of the doubt, and the protection of the law.

Therein lies the problem. A LOT of people lie, cheat, steal, and refuse to take responsibility for their actions - which includes resisting arrest when they've legitimately committed crimes. A large number of people have no training and/or experience in LE work and have NO IDEA when IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL FOR LEOs TO DETAIN AND/OR ARREST - AND THAT LEOs HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO USE FORCE IN ORDER TO DO SO.

Don't beat anyone for 8 minutes until they die when they aren't really resisting, crush their chest cavity, break every bone in their face, tase them 4 times, and keep beating them after they are unconscious, and you should have nothing to worry about. Oh yeah and did I mention the victim was mentally challenged and the first officer on the scene knew that?

I have never used excessive or unreasonable force. I don't teach others to use excessive or unreasonable force. And I have nothing to worry about. Oh yeah, did I mention that I have co-workers, sergeants no less, who have had personal contact with Kelly Thomas and have told me that he was a "raving lunatic"? Have you ever had to detain or arrest a "raving lunatic"? If not, maybe you should try it sometime and see how well you do...

You'll note the other 4 cops who didn't engage in totally over the top behavior weren't charged.

What is "over the top behavior" and how do you KNOW it was "over the top" without having been right there, knowing the totality of the circumstances, and reviewing the officers' articulations of their uses of force?

The DA gave a measured and legally well thought out reasoning for his charges, that is supported by overwhelming evidence.

This is no reason to panic for honest cops who behave with any kind of reason in their arrests.

No one is panicking. What we are concerned about is his blanket statement that people should be able to resist LEOs whenever they think LEOs are improperly doing their jobs. Again, the problem is that people will resist LEOs even though they know they have done wrong and simply refuse to take responsibility AND people will resist LEOs when they think they have done nothing wrong (even though they did) and think LEOs have no reason to detain or arrest them.

As I've said countless times before - 99.99999% of the time, if the person being detained or arrested would simply obey an officer's commands, THERE WOULD BE NO USE OF FORCE!!! MAYBE there are .000001% of officers out there who will just walk up and start beating or shoot at an every day citizen for absolutely no reason whatsoever, MAYBE - but I wouldn't bet on it...

[Revulshawn]

Keeping in mind the defendants' right to fair trials, my biggest concern is that the whole thing will be thrown out due to the DA's approach to the media. In a sense, he may have done these cops a favor by publicly skewering them before trial. Bummer

[Doheny]

Keeping in mind the defendants' right to fair trials, my biggest concern is that the whole thing will be thrown out due to the DA's approach to the media. In a sense, he may have done these cops a favor by publicly skewering them before trial. Bummer

It did seem he tainted the jury pool. Wonder if the defense will try to get the venue changed?

-not a LEO here.


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