Los Angeles,  Calif. – The National Bar Association’s incoming President Benjamin Crump has put out a call to those concerned with police abuse, killings and brutality in Los Angeles to join him Thursday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. at the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Building for the sentencing of Los Angeles Police Officer Mary O’Callaghan. Attorney Crump is representing the family in their federal civil rights lawsuit.
The community is asked to gather at Los Angeles Criminal Courts Building at 210 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 108 to stand in support of Alesia Thomas’ family and to help make a statement that probation isn’t acceptable for Officer O’Callaghan who many feel should have been charged with felony murder. The NBA reminds those coming to court to avoid any unnecessary interactions with the police by making sure to bring as less as possible into the courthouse.
O’Callaghan was found guilty of felony assault in the 2012 arrest of Alesia Thomas after a jury reached its verdict after two days of deliberations. She had pleaded not guilty to assault under color of authority.
Officers went to arrest Thomas at her home after she left her two children outside a police station.
A dashboard camera in a police cruiser captured Officer O’Callaghan kicking the handcuffed Thomas in the backseat seven times in the groin, abdomen and upper thigh, prosecutors said. Thomas lost consciousness and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
An autopsy found Thomas had cocaine in her system, but the cause of death was listed as undetermined because the struggle couldn’t be excluded as a contributing factor. There were no internal injuries or bruising.
Officer O’Callaghan’s attorney said she never had a complaint against her upheld during her 19 years on the force and had an exemplary record.
O’Callaghan faces a sentence that could range from probation to up to three years behind bars.
This week the NBA is having its 90th Annual Convention in Los Angeles.  The NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American lawyers, judges, educators and law students.
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