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Bad day for the Los Angeles Police Department image. Mary O'Callaghan, the veteran patrol officer convicted last month of abusing a handcuffed suspect who later died, was sentenced today to 36 months in jail with 20 of the months suspended. She would serve her time in a county jail. Police car video released by the court shows O'Callaghan kicking Alesia Thomas in the groin and striking her in the neck, while trying to move Thomas in the back of a patrol car. Thomas was handcuffed with a restraint around her ankles and was complaining that she could not move or breathe. Later O'Callaghan and another officer noticed that Thomas had lost consciousness but they seemed to be in no urgency to summon medical help. Thomas died later in custody but O'Callaghan was not charged in her death. The defense argued that O'Callaghan was just trying to transport Thomas to jail.
Before her sentencing Thursday, O’Callaghan emotionally apologized to Thomas’ mother.
“Mother to mother, I am extremely sorry for the loss of your daughter,” O’Callaghan said.
Mother of Alesia Thomas says she's trying to forgive LAPD Officer Mary O'Callaghan, then asks to hug her, but judge didn't allow it.
— Kim Baldonado (@KimNBCLA) July 23, 2015Also today, news broke that a retired LAPD detective, Randolph Bruce Adair, was arrested yesterday in Orange County and accused of being the older, so-called Snowbird Bandit who has been robbing banks in OC. Family members reportedly turned him in. The LAPD says that Adair retired from the Rampart division in 1988.
