Officer Charged In Kelly Thomas' Death Leaves Fullerton Police Department
FULLERTON (CBS) — One of two officers accused in the beating death of Kelly Thomas is no longer employed by the Fullerton Police Department.
Officer Manuel Anthony Ramos, 38, who is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, left the department July 3. Officials would not say whether Ramos, who has been on unpaid leave since October, resigned or was fired.
Ramos, a 10-year Fullerton police veteran, is free on $1 million bail, one of the highest ever posted in Orange County.
Ramos faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted of second-degree murder, but only four years if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Cpl. Jay Cicinelli, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive force, faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Thomas, 37, a transient who suffered from schizophrenia, died five days after an altercation with officers at the Fullerton Transportation Center on July 5, 2011.
Thomas' father, Ron, filed a civil suit last week to make sure his son, and what happened to him, isn't forgotten. "We didn't ask for money. We want change," he said.
