An LAPD officer was convicted of assault for kicking a woman who lost consciousness in the back of her police car, then later passed away.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Officer Mary O’Callaghan was convicted of assault under color of authority stemming from Alesia Thomas' death in July 2012. O'Callaghan, 50, was not charged in relation to the 35-year-old Thomas' death:
Thomas was pronounced dead at a hospital after her July 22, 2012, arrest, which came after officers arrived at her home to investigate claims that she had abandoned her two children by dropping them off at a police station.
Washington, the father of Thomas’ daughter, said he thought Thomas acted responsibly, adding that she had dropped the children off at the station with clothes and a note. His daughter, he said, still doesn’t know how Thomas died.
The Times notes that the case against O'Callaghan focused on video footage which showed her striking Thomas in the throat, then threatening to kick her in the groin and break her arms:
The recording captured Thomas — who asked officers for an ambulance more than 30 minutes before one was called — breathing heavily and repeatedly saying, I can’t.
Arrest video played in trial of LAPD officer accused in woman's death Arrest video played in trial of LAPD officer accused in woman's death A video from a dashboard camera in another patrol car, which was also played during the trial, recorded O’Callaghan laughing and smoking a cigarette as she peeked inside the car at Thomas, whose legs were tied with a nylon hobble restraint.
That ain’t a good sign, O’Callaghan says out loud in the video.
Robert Rico, O'Callaghan's lawyer, told the Times he intends to file a motion for a new trial because he feels the jurors' decision was motivated by what they say her do, rather than the evidence mounted against her.
[via Los Angeles Times]
