Hackers Threaten Calif. Police Over Homeless Man's Beating Death
An activist hacker group has threatened to shut down the website of a California police station if police officers involved in the alleged beating death of a homeless man are not prosecuted.
The hacker group identifying itself as “Anonymous” released a letter available online Friday calling for the prosecution of six Fullerton, Calif., police officers accused of viciously beating homeless man Kelly Thomas.
“This is not just a brutal attack against another human being, but an attack against human rights,” the group’s letter read regarding Thomas’ death.
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“We will begin to treat the web assets of the police, city government - and any other targets we deem in support or a cause of this incident with as much mercy as was shown to Kelly Thomas,” the hackers said, calling their cyber assault “Operation Fullerton.”
“[Thomas] may have been silenced, but his screams will live on forever,” the letter continued.
The group threatened to start the attacks on Saturday, but as of Monday morning the website belonging to the City of Fullerton Police appeared intact.
Police officials said they were still taking the threat seriously and preparing for any possible cyber attacks from hackers.
“It's definitely something we are taking seriously and doing everything we can to make sure our facilities are secure,” Sgt. Andrew Goodrich told The Los Angeles Times.
Police officers confronted Thomas at a bus depot in Fullerton on July 5 after receiving a call about someone breaking into cars.
Thomas reportedly failed to comply with officers’ orders and a scuffle ensued between the 37-year-old man and six police officers.
As a result of the physical confrontation, Thomas fell into a coma and died in the hospital five days later. Thomas’ father, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, claimed police officers beat his son to death in “cold-blooded, aggravated murder.”
Thomas suffered from schizophrenia and resisted police officers because he was likely off his medication, his father has said.
The autopsy results regarding Thomas’ cause of death has not been made public.
Investigations have been launched to determine if the police officers involved in the confrontation with Thomas committed any crime or violated any department rules. The unidentified police officers have been placed on leave.
In a video of the confrontation, Thomas can be heard screaming "stop" and calling for his father, Ron Thomas.
