Cops Threaten To Harm Man’s Dog To Extract False Confession, He Gets $900,000 For Emotional Damages

Warning: This article includes a brief discussion of suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.

Damjan

• Published in Animals
• October 12, 2024

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the dangers of coercive police interrogation tactics that can lead to false confessions. When individuals are subjected to prolonged psychological pressure, they may feel compelled to admit to crimes they didn’t commit.

This issue has resulted in various legal cases and settlements nationwide, highlighting the need for reform in interrogations. One such case occurred in Fontana, California, where a man falsely confessed to a crime he did not commit, leading to a settlement of $900,000.

The incident began in 2018 when Thomas Perez Jr. called the police to report his father, 71-year-old Thomas Perez Sr., missing. According to Perez, his father had taken the family dog for a walk late at night but never returned. Instead, the dog came back without him.

What started as a missing person report quickly spiraled into a tense and troubling situation for Perez Jr. Police initially believed that Perez Jr. knew more about his father's whereabouts than he was revealing. Despite his insistence that he did not know about what had happened, detectives launched a grueling 17-hour interrogation.

During this time, they accused him of murdering his father, presenting fabricated evidence and allegations. Detectives told Perez Jr. that they had found his father’s body in a morgue and pressured him into admitting guilt. When Perez Jr. continued to deny involvement, officers suggested that he had suppressed memories of the crime.

One of the most distressing moments during the interrogation occurred when officers brought Perez’s dog into the room and threatened to euthanize her. They claimed the dog had been present during the mu*der, and that she “knew” what had happened.

At this point, Perez, exhausted and overwhelmed, broke down. He eventually confessed to sta*bing his father with scissors, a confession that would later be proven false.

Perez lay beside his dog while the interrogation took place.

After his confession, Perez Jr. was arrested and taken to a mental health facility due to concerns for his well-being. Unbeknownst to him then, his father was alive and preparing to board a flight at Los Angeles International Airport.

Despite this, police continued to investigate Perez Jr. for a crime that had never occurred. His home was searched, but no evidence of a violent crime was found.

In the aftermath, it became clear that police had mishandled the investigation. A civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of Perez Jr., arguing that he had been "psychologically tortured" and coerced into giving a false confession.

The lawsuit highlighted several critical failures by the police, including their decision not to confirm Perez Sr.’s death before proceeding with the interrogation. Additionally, Perez Jr. was denied access to his medications for several hours, exacerbating his mental and physical health issues during the ordeal.

Perez grew increasingly anxious throughout the interrogation.

In court documents, U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee criticized the tactics used by the detectives, describing the interrogation as “unconstitutional psychological torture.” She noted that Perez Jr. was sleep-deprived, mentally ill, and suffering from medication withdrawal when he falsely confessed to the crime.

Judge Gee concluded that a reasonable juror could find the detectives’ actions led to Perez’s confusion and distress, ultimately causing him to admit to something he didn’t do.

Perez's father was healthy and doing fine.

The city of Fontana ultimately agreed to a $900,000 settlement in the case, though three officers are still employed with the department, while one has retired. This case highlights the severe consequences of coercive interrogation tactics, primarily when directed at mentally vulnerable individuals.

It serves as an essential reminder of the need for police reform to prevent such psychological harm and ensure that justice is fairly and ethically pursued.

Damjan