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SF Cop Charged in BART Slaying

Ex-officer surrendered on suspicion of murder

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 14, 2009 7:17 AM CST

(Newser) – The transit officer who fatally shot an unarmed man on New Year's Day, sparking San Francisco-area riots, was arrested last night in Nevada on suspicion of murder, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Sources say Johannes Mehserle, 27, had fled California after receiving death threats in the wake of Oscar Grant's death. Mehserle resigned last week rather than answer investigators’ questions.

Oakland authorities were pressured to take quick action, especially after video of the shooting sparked public ire. Civil rights activists called attention to the ongoing problem of police brutality against black men, and protests over BART’s handling of the investigation turned violent. Mehserle surrendered without incident on the eve of more planned protests in Oakland today. Grant’s family has filed a $25 million legal claim against BART.

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Toby Blome addresses the BART board of directors while holding a sign demanding the arrest of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at BART headquarters in Oakland, Calif., Jan. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

This undated family file photo provided by the Law Offices of John Burris shows Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old transit rider who was shot and killed by BART police on New Year's Day, 2009. (AP Photo/Family Handout provided by the Law Offices of John Burris)

Wanda Johnson, the mother of Oscar Grant, wipes a tear while listening to family members at a news conference on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Brant Ward)

BART officials stand next to closed-off stalls leading to trains during a protest of the shooting death of Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Protesters yell during a demonstration against the shooting death of Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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The former Bay Area Rapid Transit police office who fatally shot an unarmed man on an Oakland, Calif. train platform on New Year's Day was arrested Tuesday night. Johannes Mehserle was in custody under a fugitive warrant issued in California. (AP) (Jan. 14) (AssociatedPress)

This video, shot by another BART passenger, shows the shooting of Oscar Grant. (freedombroadcasting)

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It will really help with the healing process. This is also very important for the community. I think the district attorney ought to be commended for moving expeditiously. - John Burris, attorney for Oscar Grant's family, on the arrest

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SF Cop Charged in BART Slaying