Warning: This article contains brief discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
The police have defended their use of 'psychological torture' on an innocent man who was pressured into falsely confessing to murdering his own father, who was in fact alive and well.
Thomas Perez Jr. was psychologically tortured for 17 hours after reporting his 71-year-old father, Thomas Perez Sr., as missing when he failed to come home after walking their dog at around 10pm on August 7, 2018.
The California man insisted he didn't know where his dad was, but investigators didn't believe him and instead interrogated him for 17 hours and repeatedly accused him of murdering his father.
Investigators even allegedly threatened to euthanize Perez's dog and brought her into the room to say goodbye, causing him severe distress.
Fontana Police Department has since defended its officers actions in the case - despite the City of Fontana settling Perez Jr's lawsuit for $898,000 after a judge claimed the questioning appeared to be 'unconstitutional psychological torture'.
Back in May of this year, the police department called the settlement a 'business decision which was recommended by a federal court mediator to save the city further time, effort and expense'.
Thomas Perez Jr. was awarded $900,000 after the City of Fontana settled the lawsuit he held against the authority (CNN)
A statement read in part: "Again, the parties’ written settlement agreement contains no admission of wrongdoing by anyone, and Mr. Perez specifically agreed to settlement on these terms. Had Mr. Perez requested an admission of wrongdoing, the case would have never settled."
Yes, despite pressuring Perez Jr. into a false confession that he killed his dad by threatening to kill his dog by way of euthanasia, the force reiterated its stance that its officers did nothing wrong.
This is despite the fact that 36 hours after he reported his dad missing, the broken, sleep deprived man was transferred to a psychiatric ward after he attempted to take his own life.
This was all while Fontana Police Department had discovered that his dad was, in fact, still alive, having found him at Los Angeles International Airport attempting to board a flight to see his daughter in northern California.
Perez Jr. became incredibly distressed during the interrogation (Fontana Police)
Still, no one told Perez Jr. that he was alive as the police force then continued to investigate him as they believed he had committed a crime.
Now, Police Chief Michael Dorsey has taken to Twitter to defend force's actions and even suggested the only reason the city lost out on money was due to Perez Jr.
His lengthy statement, posted last week, read in part: "In situations like these, it is acceptable and perfectly legal to use different tactics and techniques, such as ruses, to elicit information from people suspected of potential criminal activity. That was done in this case in order to gain resolution."
Dorsey then went on to rhetorically ask 'Were we perfect in how we handled the situation?' which he claimed 'nobody ever is'.
Thomas Perez Sr. was alive and well the whole time, despite police officers pressuring his son to falsely confess to murdering him (CNN)
Before adding: "We are sorry for what the son went through, and we are grateful to learn that he and his father have reunited, and their relationship has improved."
Perez Jr's attorney Jerry Steering slammed the post, which he claimed was 'unapologetic' during an interview with the Orange County Register.
Speaking of the officers involved in the ordeal, he said: "I think they should be ashamed of themselves. I think they have no moral compass."
UNILAD has approached Fontana Police Department for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
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