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Witnesses Recount Alleged Fatal Beating Of Homeless Man By Officers

FULLERTON (CBS) — Six police officers suspected of beating a homeless man to death have been pulled from street duty, but are still working.

The District Attorney's Office and the FBI are investigating the allegations that the officers severely beat 37-year-old Kelly Thomas on July 5, 2011.

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KNX 1070's Mike Landon reports the victim's father said he's upset the officers haven't been arrested.

Friends for Fullerton's Future obtained this video footage from an OCTA bus that pulled into the Fullerton Transportation Center moments after Thomas was beaten. Several witnesses can be seen and heard describing the attack.

A transcript posted on the website fullertonsfuture.org recounts what witnesses said on the bus.

Woman: We watched the whole thing.
Bus Driver: What's going on?
Woman: The cops are kicking this poor guy over there. All these cops
Bus Driver: What happened?
Woman: I have no idea. I didn't know what the guy did. They were pulling his hair,
kicking the s*** out of him.
Bus Driver: Really?
Woman: Yeah. And he's all full of blood.
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Victim Kelly Thomas With Father, Ron Thomas
(credit: CBS)

"Am I happy with that? No. Because if you or I were suspected of possibly beating someone to death where would we be today? We'd be behind bars," Ron Thomas said.

Flyer - Beating Of Kelly Thomas In Fullerton
(credit: CBS)

"They're getting a full paycheck, they're at work. We wouldn't be afforded that luxury," Thomas said.

Thomas says a civil attorney hired by the city has offered him $1 million - presumably, he said, to keep quiet.

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