cop shoots handcuffed man
- Thread starter PMK
- Start date
There are three types of victims here...
1. The guy who died and his loved ones
2. The family and friends of the shooter
3. Police Officers in general.
I am so tired of all the crap that comes out of these situations regarding police officers. My brother was a dedicated officer and I can tell you for a fact that 95% of police officers are good honorable people who get into the profession because they want to protect and serve. It is like a calling to them in the same way education was to me. The 5% who are idiots give these guys bad names. There are hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line everday against the scum that are out there. According to the department of Justice latest numbers, the use of force (gun, taser, baton, spray, etc...) was 4.19 times per 10,000 responded to calls for service. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/176330-1.pdf That means that cops use force .0419% of the time. I doubt many of us could be so restrained. According to the National Law Enforcement memorial fund, almost 200 police officers are killed each year and over 56,000 are assaulted.
While what happened in this case looks to be at the least a horrible mistake, and at worst a maliscious murder. Lets not paint a broad brush of hatred and discrimination against a great and noble group of people. I know too many of them to believe otherwise. In my experience, those who disagree with me usually have been on the wrong end of the law at some time or another. Are there bad eggs? Yes, and my brother had stories. But they are the exception, not the rule.
1. The guy who died and his loved ones
2. The family and friends of the shooter
3. Police Officers in general.
I am so tired of all the crap that comes out of these situations regarding police officers. My brother was a dedicated officer and I can tell you for a fact that 95% of police officers are good honorable people who get into the profession because they want to protect and serve. It is like a calling to them in the same way education was to me. The 5% who are idiots give these guys bad names. There are hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line everday against the scum that are out there. According to the department of Justice latest numbers, the use of force (gun, taser, baton, spray, etc...) was 4.19 times per 10,000 responded to calls for service. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/176330-1.pdf That means that cops use force .0419% of the time. I doubt many of us could be so restrained. According to the National Law Enforcement memorial fund, almost 200 police officers are killed each year and over 56,000 are assaulted.
While what happened in this case looks to be at the least a horrible mistake, and at worst a maliscious murder. Lets not paint a broad brush of hatred and discrimination against a great and noble group of people. I know too many of them to believe otherwise. In my experience, those who disagree with me usually have been on the wrong end of the law at some time or another. Are there bad eggs? Yes, and my brother had stories. But they are the exception, not the rule.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/18604909/detail.html
Defense: Mehserle Said He Was Going To Use Taser
Friday, January 30, 2009 updated: 3:20 pm PST January 30, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The former BART police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man on a transit station platform told a fellow officer moments before firing his gun that he was going to discharge his Taser, according to a document released Friday.
Johannes Mehserle, 27, was ordered Friday to be held on $3 million bail on charges that he shot Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Hayward man, in the back while Grant was lying face down on the ground at the Fruitvale station platform after police responded to reports that there had been a fight on a train.
In a draft of the bail appeal released Friday, Attorney Michael Rains said that Mehserle told Officer Anthony Pirone he was "going to taze Grant and [yelled] at Pirone to 'get back,'" the document said quoting reports reviewed for the motion.
Pirone told investigators, the document revealed, that Mehserle told Grant to -- "Put your hands behind your back, stop resisting, stop resisting, put your hands behind your back."
He then said: "I'm going to taze him, I'm going to taze him. I can't get his arms."
Pirone told investigators Mehserle then popped up and said: "Tony, Tony, get away, back up, back up."
Mehserle was armed with both a Taser and a handgun. He then allegedly drew the handgun and shot Grant once.
Mehserle -- who resigned the week after the shooting incident that provoked widespread outrage and protests -- has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
With emotions in the community still simmering, authorities increased security at the courthouse as Mehserle's made his appearance before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson. A group in the hallway outside could clearly be heard chanting "We are Oscar Grant. We are Oscar Grant."
The $300,000 bail was far less than former San Francisco District Attorney Jim Hammer predicted before the hearing. "In a run of the mill murder case, there is generally bail -- $2 to $3 million," Hammer said. Hammer added that the bail hearing was just the beginning of a lengthy legal journey. With several cellphone videos having been broadcast of the shooting, the potential jury pool may have already been tainted. "It's a real nightmare not just for the judge but for the DA also," Hammer said. "If you look back at the most recent case -- the Rodney King beating trial -- you have video of alleged police misconduct played over and over. What that means is that the jurors in Oakland probably have already made up their minds about it."
"The defense will make a motion to move it [the trial] out of the hothouse atmosphere here in Oakland and Alameda County," he added.
Hammer said the trial could be reassigned almost anywhere in the state, including communities where the racially charged nature of the case may be an issue. Grant was black and Mehserle is white.
"That would be bad news for the prosecutor," he said.
Defense: Mehserle Said He Was Going To Use Taser
Friday, January 30, 2009 updated: 3:20 pm PST January 30, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The former BART police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man on a transit station platform told a fellow officer moments before firing his gun that he was going to discharge his Taser, according to a document released Friday.
Johannes Mehserle, 27, was ordered Friday to be held on $3 million bail on charges that he shot Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Hayward man, in the back while Grant was lying face down on the ground at the Fruitvale station platform after police responded to reports that there had been a fight on a train.
In a draft of the bail appeal released Friday, Attorney Michael Rains said that Mehserle told Officer Anthony Pirone he was "going to taze Grant and [yelled] at Pirone to 'get back,'" the document said quoting reports reviewed for the motion.
Pirone told investigators, the document revealed, that Mehserle told Grant to -- "Put your hands behind your back, stop resisting, stop resisting, put your hands behind your back."
He then said: "I'm going to taze him, I'm going to taze him. I can't get his arms."
Pirone told investigators Mehserle then popped up and said: "Tony, Tony, get away, back up, back up."
Mehserle was armed with both a Taser and a handgun. He then allegedly drew the handgun and shot Grant once.
Mehserle -- who resigned the week after the shooting incident that provoked widespread outrage and protests -- has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
With emotions in the community still simmering, authorities increased security at the courthouse as Mehserle's made his appearance before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson. A group in the hallway outside could clearly be heard chanting "We are Oscar Grant. We are Oscar Grant."
The $300,000 bail was far less than former San Francisco District Attorney Jim Hammer predicted before the hearing. "In a run of the mill murder case, there is generally bail -- $2 to $3 million," Hammer said. Hammer added that the bail hearing was just the beginning of a lengthy legal journey. With several cellphone videos having been broadcast of the shooting, the potential jury pool may have already been tainted. "It's a real nightmare not just for the judge but for the DA also," Hammer said. "If you look back at the most recent case -- the Rodney King beating trial -- you have video of alleged police misconduct played over and over. What that means is that the jurors in Oakland probably have already made up their minds about it."
"The defense will make a motion to move it [the trial] out of the hothouse atmosphere here in Oakland and Alameda County," he added.
Hammer said the trial could be reassigned almost anywhere in the state, including communities where the racially charged nature of the case may be an issue. Grant was black and Mehserle is white.
"That would be bad news for the prosecutor," he said.
Copyright 2009 by KTVU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I think that the former officer will be better off staying in jail in my opinion, for his own safety. But here's todays news, he might post bail for $300,000 - which isn't that much if he has a co-signer.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/18620674/detail.html
Will BART Shooting Cop Post Bail?
Monday, February 2, 2009 updated: 10:21 am PST February 2, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Former BART Police Officer Johanes Mehserle might post a $300,000 bail Monday, but he may need to provide an additional $3-6 million in collateral to a bondsman first in order to cover a $3 million bond.
The collateral is guaranteeing the face value of the bail, said Mike Bowman, a bailsman with Calvin Elam Bail Bond.
It would be real property, thats the only thing Id take, unless they came in here with three million dollars cash, he said.
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' office issued a statement Friday mistakenly stating that Mehserle had been released from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after posting bail, but sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said Mehserle remains in custody.
At a hearing last week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson said that he set a high bail of $3 million for former the former BART police officer because he thinks Mehserle gave an "inconsistent story" about why he shot and killed Oscar Grant III at the Fruitvale station in Oakland early New Year's Day.
Jacobson said it appears to him that Mehserle, who is charged with murder in connection with the highly publicized incident, wanted to "make up a story to avoid the consequences of his actions."
At a packed hearing that lasted nearly an hour, Jacobson said Mehserle told fellow BART police officers that he was going to use a Taser on Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward man, but after Mehserle shot Grant he told a colleague, "I thought he had a gun."
The judge said Mehserle's statements "seem to be inconsistent" because if Mehserle truly believed that Grant had a gun then Mehserle would have been justified to pull out his gun and use deadly force and wouldn't have needed to use his Taser.
Jacobson said that because he believes Mehserle hasn't been totally forthcoming about his actions he has "a lack of trust at promises that he will appear for future court hearings."
Before Jacobson ruled on Mehserle's bail motion, the former officer's attorney, Michael Rains, said that the shooting was "a tragic accident" and Mehserle only intended to use his Taser.
Rains said he thinks Mehserle should only be charged with involuntary manslaughter and consequently his bail should only be $30,000, which is the standard bail for that lesser charge.
Since surrendering to authorities on Jan. 14, Mehserle, 27, has been held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges that he shot Grant in the back while Grant was lying face down on the ground at the Fruitvale station platform when police responded to reports that there had been a fight on a train.
With emotions in the community still simmering, authorities increased security at the courthouse as Mehserle's made his appearance before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson. A group in the hallway outside could clearly be heard chanting "We are Oscar Grant. We are Oscar Grant."
The group of protesters marched through the streets of Oakland after the bail hearing, at one point congregating at the intersection of 14th Street and Broadway, stopping traffic and clambering on top of an AC Transit bus. Though there were reports of one arrest by early evening, police seemed to have the streets under control as night fell.
Mehserle resigned the week after the shooting incident, which provoked widespread outrage and protests.
Using standard legal language, Jacobson said Mehserle is entitled to bail because he doesn't think there is clear and convincing evidence that there's a substantial likelihood that releasing the former officer from custody would result in great bodily injury to others.
Jacobson said no-bail status normally is reserved only for defendants facing the death penalty or other extremely serious crimes such as treason.
Rains was not immediately available to comment on whether Mehserle will be able to post bail.
A trust fund for the 4-year-old daughter of Grant has been set up, a spokesman for his family announced Friday afternoon.
Pastor Dion Evans said outside the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse that the Grant family is "extremely appreciative to the community and this country for the enormous amount of support and its strong involvement with us in this time of crisis with the BART Police Department.
"We have set up a trust fund for Tatiana so that she will have the opportunity to go to college despite the loss of her father," Evans said.
All donations can be made to the Tatiana Grant Trust Fund, account number 3879027641, Wells Fargo Bank, 950 Southland Drive, Hayward, Calif., 94545.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/18620674/detail.html
Will BART Shooting Cop Post Bail?
Monday, February 2, 2009 updated: 10:21 am PST February 2, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Former BART Police Officer Johanes Mehserle might post a $300,000 bail Monday, but he may need to provide an additional $3-6 million in collateral to a bondsman first in order to cover a $3 million bond.
The collateral is guaranteeing the face value of the bail, said Mike Bowman, a bailsman with Calvin Elam Bail Bond.
It would be real property, thats the only thing Id take, unless they came in here with three million dollars cash, he said.
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' office issued a statement Friday mistakenly stating that Mehserle had been released from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after posting bail, but sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said Mehserle remains in custody.
At a hearing last week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson said that he set a high bail of $3 million for former the former BART police officer because he thinks Mehserle gave an "inconsistent story" about why he shot and killed Oscar Grant III at the Fruitvale station in Oakland early New Year's Day.
Jacobson said it appears to him that Mehserle, who is charged with murder in connection with the highly publicized incident, wanted to "make up a story to avoid the consequences of his actions."
At a packed hearing that lasted nearly an hour, Jacobson said Mehserle told fellow BART police officers that he was going to use a Taser on Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward man, but after Mehserle shot Grant he told a colleague, "I thought he had a gun."
The judge said Mehserle's statements "seem to be inconsistent" because if Mehserle truly believed that Grant had a gun then Mehserle would have been justified to pull out his gun and use deadly force and wouldn't have needed to use his Taser.
Jacobson said that because he believes Mehserle hasn't been totally forthcoming about his actions he has "a lack of trust at promises that he will appear for future court hearings."
Before Jacobson ruled on Mehserle's bail motion, the former officer's attorney, Michael Rains, said that the shooting was "a tragic accident" and Mehserle only intended to use his Taser.
Rains said he thinks Mehserle should only be charged with involuntary manslaughter and consequently his bail should only be $30,000, which is the standard bail for that lesser charge.
Since surrendering to authorities on Jan. 14, Mehserle, 27, has been held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges that he shot Grant in the back while Grant was lying face down on the ground at the Fruitvale station platform when police responded to reports that there had been a fight on a train.
With emotions in the community still simmering, authorities increased security at the courthouse as Mehserle's made his appearance before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson. A group in the hallway outside could clearly be heard chanting "We are Oscar Grant. We are Oscar Grant."
The group of protesters marched through the streets of Oakland after the bail hearing, at one point congregating at the intersection of 14th Street and Broadway, stopping traffic and clambering on top of an AC Transit bus. Though there were reports of one arrest by early evening, police seemed to have the streets under control as night fell.
Mehserle resigned the week after the shooting incident, which provoked widespread outrage and protests.
Using standard legal language, Jacobson said Mehserle is entitled to bail because he doesn't think there is clear and convincing evidence that there's a substantial likelihood that releasing the former officer from custody would result in great bodily injury to others.
Jacobson said no-bail status normally is reserved only for defendants facing the death penalty or other extremely serious crimes such as treason.
Rains was not immediately available to comment on whether Mehserle will be able to post bail.
A trust fund for the 4-year-old daughter of Grant has been set up, a spokesman for his family announced Friday afternoon.
Pastor Dion Evans said outside the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse that the Grant family is "extremely appreciative to the community and this country for the enormous amount of support and its strong involvement with us in this time of crisis with the BART Police Department.
"We have set up a trust fund for Tatiana so that she will have the opportunity to go to college despite the loss of her father," Evans said.
All donations can be made to the Tatiana Grant Trust Fund, account number 3879027641, Wells Fargo Bank, 950 Southland Drive, Hayward, Calif., 94545.
ECarbonel;2721273; said:
I can't improve on Gr8Karma's response to this unfortunate post.
I will add that Twhittle made a great post about the 3 victims of this situation, but the post I quoted indicates there's a 4th victim.......those who perpetuate the fallacy that the police department is inherently bad. There is nothing more harmful than ignorance.
Yep, free on bail. Back in Tahoe and playing the slots until it's time for him to do some time in the big house.
http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleVi...hannes-Mehserle-Now-Free-on-Bail/Default.aspx
OAKLAND (KRON) -- Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle is now out of jail on bail for the killing for unarmed passenger Oscar Grant.
The Alameda County Sheriff's department confirms Mehserle left the Santa Rita jail at 3:45 p.m. Friday. He was released after posting a $300,000 cash alternative to the $3,000,000 bail he was given in the case. His release comes a full week after a judge had granted bail in the case.
Mehserle remains charged with murder for shooting Oscar Grant on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station early on New Year's morning. In court documents released by his lawyer, the former officer says he meant to reach for his taser instead of his firearm when the shooting happened.
BART says it has no official reaction to the release. Mehserle's attorney says he's under a gag order and can't comment.
The shooting has prompted massive and sometimes violent protests in Oakland. Nine people were arrested after a demonstration that coincided with the court hearing in which Mehserle was granted bail.
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums is calling for calm in the wake of the latest developments.
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I call again for peace in our streets," the mayor said in a written statement. " In challenging violence, we must not engage in violence. In challenging injustice, let us not engage in unjust acts. In
http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleVi...hannes-Mehserle-Now-Free-on-Bail/Default.aspx
OAKLAND (KRON) -- Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle is now out of jail on bail for the killing for unarmed passenger Oscar Grant.
The Alameda County Sheriff's department confirms Mehserle left the Santa Rita jail at 3:45 p.m. Friday. He was released after posting a $300,000 cash alternative to the $3,000,000 bail he was given in the case. His release comes a full week after a judge had granted bail in the case.
Mehserle remains charged with murder for shooting Oscar Grant on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station early on New Year's morning. In court documents released by his lawyer, the former officer says he meant to reach for his taser instead of his firearm when the shooting happened.
BART says it has no official reaction to the release. Mehserle's attorney says he's under a gag order and can't comment.
The shooting has prompted massive and sometimes violent protests in Oakland. Nine people were arrested after a demonstration that coincided with the court hearing in which Mehserle was granted bail.
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums is calling for calm in the wake of the latest developments.
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I call again for peace in our streets," the mayor said in a written statement. " In challenging violence, we must not engage in violence. In challenging injustice, let us not engage in unjust acts. In
