The latest revelation in the case of Oscar Grant, who was shot in the back by a police officer in an Oakland, California, BART station early on New Year's Day, may explain why former officer Johannes Mehserle fled California after the incident. Newly obtained video taken by a bystander at the scene shows an unnamed police officer approach and punch Oscar Grant, who was already being detained by another officer, without reason. That same officer had Grant pinned to the station platform, with a knee on his neck, when the 22-year-old man was later fatally shot by Mehserle.
Legal experts consulted by television station KTVU expressed shock at theconduct of officers in the video. Said Prof. Peter Keane, of the University of California-Hastings, Law School:
There's no question in my mind that that's vivid, powerful evidence that he committed a vicious physical assault, unprovoked, on a citizen for absolutely no reason."
Adds Prof. Franklin Zimring, of the University of California-Berkeley, Boalt Law School:
Unless there's something more that we don't see, then the degree of force that was used, and the way it was used, are not justified."
Both experts agree that the officer's conduct appears to be criminal and could well be subject to prosecution. Keane says the DA "is not doing his job" by failing to bring charges for assault.
The video raises the possibility that then-Officer Mehserle was continuing an illegal conflict that fell outside his authority as a police officer when he drew his weapon and fired the round that killed Oscar Grant. That might well explain why Mehserle's arrest on murder charges took place across the state line in Nevada.
Under pressure from the release of the new video, BART promises a "rigorous internal affairs investigation."
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Comments
as usual, white cops fear black folks because they know they have to be tougher than most people, so excessive force is in their books, however unjustified it was.
It's not a race issue. It's their "us vs them" mentality, the power they have over people in a system that lets them get away with any number of crimes while simultaneously giving the maximum sentence to anyone who defends themselves against THESE gang members. There may be race issues, but they're just sprinkled on for variety, it's a POWER issue.
Huh, fled to nevada? Death threats from thugs on his family is why he was south of the casinos, not anything to do with the situation being discussed. Politics by the DA and less than good lawyering is why the arrest was in Nevada. He would have turned himself in for sure if the offer had been made by the DA.
Terribly tragic but far from murder.
The other officers should have turned this guy in..., except that it would appear that they were all involved. When they weren't aiding the murder they were busy running around trying to cover it up by stealing witnesses' phones and cameras. They should all be arrested, otherwise the DA isn't doing his job.
And, why on earth shouldn't he receive death threats? He murdered a man in cold blood on film that was played over an over again all over the world.
Someone is selling teeshirts and donating the $$ to Oscar Grant's family
sfindiefashion.com/2009/01/28/local-designers-bart-gun-shirts-benefit-oscar-grant-family
It is amazing that there is any question. There was no reason for anyone to die. This cop is just an example of our tax dollars hard at work, out there killing our kids for fi
"Officers are not, by virtue of their legal status, immunized from the normal laws of the government..."
Yeah, right. I wonder where this law professor's been living. Try googling "the only ones" or
police brutality" and see how many "only ones" get away with things for which they would put a regular citizen under the jail.
Hey, blogger, college Professors are not experts on practitioner oriented duties. They look at books and crunch numbers. Ask a force expert...what a joke
I can not understand why anyone should be surprised or upset by this murder and assault. this is regular every day SOP for police every where in the country. every where. and what is shown here, is repeated 100x more every day in this country. and it is worse than here. it's just covered up better.
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