Jury convicts LAPD officer for kicking woman in groin
A Los Angeles police officer accused of kicking a woman in the groin during a 2012 arrest captured on video by a police cruiser camera was found guilty Friday of assault under color of authority.
The prosecution's case centered on the video recording, which showed Officer Mary O'Callaghan jab at Alesia Thomas’ throat with an open hand and threaten to break her arms and kick her in the genitals. In the video, O’Callaghan then raises her boot and strikes Thomas, whose body shakes in response.
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.”
A few minutes later, Thomas, a 35-year-old mother, loses consciousness. A video from a dashboard camera in a different patrol car – also played during the trial – shows O’Callaghan smoking a cigarette as she peeks inside the car at Thomas, whose legs were tied with a nylon hobble restraint.
“That ain’t a good sign,” O’Callaghan said out loud in the video.
Asst. Head Deputy Dist. Atty. Shannon Presby told jurors that the video clearly shows the officer kicking Thomas hard in the groin.
But O'Callaghan's attorney, Robert Rico, disagreed, telling jurors that the recording instead showed his client pushing Thomas with her boot.
Rico told jurors that although the footage shows an “ugly” scene, his client’s use of force was “reasonable, justified and necessary." Thomas wasn’t complying with the officers' orders, he said.
The attorney played an audio clip for jurors, which he said showed O’Callaghan didn’t want to hurt Thomas.
"If you want to kill me, just kill me," Thomas said in the recording.
"I don't want to kill you," O'Callaghan responded. "I just want to transport you."
"Why?" Thomas asked.
"To get you some help," the officer said in the recording.
Thomas was pronounced dead at a hospital following her July 22, 2012, arrest, which came after officers arrived at her home to investigate claims she had abandoned her two children after they were dropped off at a police station.
O'Callaghan, who did not testify in the trial, is not charged in connection with Thomas' death.
An autopsy by the Los Angeles County coroner determined that cocaine intoxication was likely “a major factor” in Thomas’ death. It wasn't possible to determine what role, if any, the struggle with the officers played in her death. The official cause of death was listed as "undetermined."
The verdict marks the conclusion of the first of three cases involving LAPD officers charged with assault under the color of authority for on-duty incidents captured on camera.
In April, Officer Richard Garcia, 34, was charged with using unlawful force during an arrest in South L.A. Last year, Officer Jonathan Lai, 31, was charged with using excessive force while detaining a man near Staples Center in 2012.
The prosecution's case centered on the video recording, which showed Officer Mary O'Callaghan jab at Alesia Thomas’ throat with an open hand and threaten to break her arms and kick her in the genitals. In the video, O’Callaghan then raises her boot and strikes Thomas, whose body shakes in response.
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.”
A few minutes later, Thomas, a 35-year-old mother, loses consciousness. A video from a dashboard camera in a different patrol car – also played during the trial – shows O’Callaghan smoking a cigarette as she peeks inside the car at Thomas, whose legs were tied with a nylon hobble restraint.
“That ain’t a good sign,” O’Callaghan said out loud in the video.
Asst. Head Deputy Dist. Atty. Shannon Presby told jurors that the video clearly shows the officer kicking Thomas hard in the groin.
But O'Callaghan's attorney, Robert Rico, disagreed, telling jurors that the recording instead showed his client pushing Thomas with her boot.
Rico told jurors that although the footage shows an “ugly” scene, his client’s use of force was “reasonable, justified and necessary." Thomas wasn’t complying with the officers' orders, he said.
The attorney played an audio clip for jurors, which he said showed O’Callaghan didn’t want to hurt Thomas.
"If you want to kill me, just kill me," Thomas said in the recording.
"I don't want to kill you," O'Callaghan responded. "I just want to transport you."
"Why?" Thomas asked.
"To get you some help," the officer said in the recording.
Thomas was pronounced dead at a hospital following her July 22, 2012, arrest, which came after officers arrived at her home to investigate claims she had abandoned her two children after they were dropped off at a police station.
O'Callaghan, who did not testify in the trial, is not charged in connection with Thomas' death.
An autopsy by the Los Angeles County coroner determined that cocaine intoxication was likely “a major factor” in Thomas’ death. It wasn't possible to determine what role, if any, the struggle with the officers played in her death. The official cause of death was listed as "undetermined."
The verdict marks the conclusion of the first of three cases involving LAPD officers charged with assault under the color of authority for on-duty incidents captured on camera.
In April, Officer Richard Garcia, 34, was charged with using unlawful force during an arrest in South L.A. Last year, Officer Jonathan Lai, 31, was charged with using excessive force while detaining a man near Staples Center in 2012.
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