Attorney for the Fullerton Six: "Public perception of officer's trying to control a combative, resistive suspect rarely conforms…to reality"
The six Fullerton police officers involved in the brutal beating of Kelly Thomas now have an attorney. Right out of the gate, his strategy seems to be to accuse bystanders of lying and the public of getting worked up over nothing:
Michael D. Schwartz said Kelly Thomas was combative with officers. And contrary to the statements of at least one witness, the officers did not use a flashlight as a weapon, he said.
Schwartz also said there was "no excessive use" by the officer of a Taser on Thomas -- rebuffing claims made by several witnesses.
Schwartz, whose law firm represents the officers, said he could not discuss specifics because of the ongoing criminal and administrative investigation.
"Unfortunately, public perception of officer's trying to control a combative, resistive suspect rarely conforms to those officers' training, experience, what those officers were experiencing at the time or reality," he said. "This seems to be a case in point."
Schwartz's bio is here.
