Johannes Mehserle, BART Cop Convicted in Oscar Grant Shooting, to Be Released Next Week

By Erin Sherbert Thu., Jun. 9 2011 at 1:01 PM

Released for good behavior

It didn't take long after the news broke that Johannes Mehserle, the former BART cop charged with shooting Oscar Grant, would be released from jail this weekend, for Grant's friends and family to plan a rally.

And if history tells us anything, it is that Oakland should prepare for potential chaos. Mayor Jean Quan told reporters today that she's hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

"It's emotional for a lot of people in Oakland," Quan said. "We understand that there are some demonstrations that we hope will be as peaceful as last time, but if not, we are totally prepared to respond."
The high-profile shooting incited rage and racial tension among East Bay residents, many who came out in droves to protest after Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter rather than murder. Downtown Oakland looked like a police state, with cops in riot gear and people looting stores. Protesters trashed the neighborhood and started fires.

We called the Oakland Police Department to ask how it plans to deal with the potential chaos when Mehserle is released. We will update you when we hear back.

Mehserle was convicted for involuntary manslaughter in the Jan. 1, 2009, shooting of Grant at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland. He claims he meant to reach for his Taser, but instead grabbed his gun and shot Grant in the back.

Mehserle will have served only 11 months of his two-year sentence.

Naturally, Grant's family is disturbed by the news. His uncle, Cephus Johnson, told reporters in May that they would be very upset if Mehserle was released early for good behavior. "It would be very painful emotionally just to see him not behind bars and the fact that he is now seeking employment in Northern California," he said.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly

Tags:

Johannes Mehserle, Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland police, Oscar Grant

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Flemingrandolph

@SeanD ; because there's no 'reply' option.."Grow a pair"..the faux groin attack is right out of the Sarah Palin playbook (man pants ,etc.) but I did like the 'spade a spade' bit.

Iama

This prick executed a handcuffed man in cold blood, claimed it was an accident, and doen't even have to finish out his measley 2-year sentence? Wow! Talk about an injustice! I'm willing to bet that he won't live too long after being freed. The first time he is spotted in public will most likely be it for him. He can't stay hid forever.

NotGavin

If you actually believe that it was an intentional murder and not a terrible, tragic mistake, you are severely reality-challenged.

randyfleming

They're out there ; all over this town and across the Bay Bridge too. When the discussion turns toward the 'free styled' random and casual killings in those same certain communities , 'death like silence'...It's always and only 'the man'...These people are hopeless..Even comedian Bill Cosby's 'thrown in the towel'.

SeanD

Randy, your anti-black shtick is getting tiresome. You know nothing about these "certain communities" - the walls of your bubble are clear but impermeable. What's most galling is that you always couch your language in PC-speak like "certain communities." Be a man, grow a pair and call a spade a spade.

Taviles

There are so many hateful people in the world! So many with tunnel vision. Sad state of affairs. Accident or intentional he deserves to be in prison.

Bobby Hutton

Why on earth does SF Weekly insist on playing the riot card every time something happens in Mehserle's trial? If you look at every single other article on Mehserle's release, none of them mention "potential chaos." Unless you're planning on actually covering the case and *maybe* crossing the bridge to the Sunny Side, SF Weekly, stop trying to bait people.

And for the record? Yes, downtown Oakland looked like a police state on 7/8/10 and 11/5/10. But most of West and East Oakland is a police state. ALL THE TIME.

I repeat - stay on your side of the bridge and let people who actually have ties to the community instead of thrill seekers like yourself cover the story.

randyfleming

Yes , you'd expect this from maybe a Steven T. Jones/BayGuardian styled piece..

Bobby Hutton

Or a piece grounded in a reality other than yours. You probably sit at home and jerk off to riot footage with a copy of Mein Kampf in your free hand while muttering about the Coming Race War.

Flemingrandolph

Mein Kampf ?!..Try "None Dare Call It Treason" by John A. Stormer....Bobby Hutton..That name's still on the FBI's list , I believe ?