California has agreed to pay Thomas Perez Jr. $900,000 after a lawsuit revealed the extreme measures taken by police during his 17-hour interrogation, including forcing him to falsely confess to his father’s murder. The incident occurred in 2018 when Perez Jr. reported his father, Thomas Perez Sr., missing in Fontana, east of Los Angeles. Despite Perez Sr. being later found safe, police accused Perez Jr. of murder and subjected him to psychological pressure, including threats to harm his dog.
During the interrogation, officers continuously accused Perez Jr. of killing his father, claiming they found evidence in his house, which his lawyer denied. The video of the interrogation showed Perez Jr. in distress, begging for medical help, and harming himself as police laughed. A federal judge later called the police’s actions “unconstitutional psychological torture.”
The settlement highlights the dangers of police coercion and false confessions. Perez Jr.’s lawyer criticized the police for their cruelty and emphasized the ease with which false statements can be extracted. The ordeal ended when Perez Sr.’s daughter confirmed he was alive and traveling, yet Perez Jr. was still locked up in a mental hospital for three days.
Despite the settlement, Fontana police have not commented on the incident or disclosed any actions taken against the officers involved, raising concerns about accountability and police conduct.
