Johannes Mehserle's Bail Set at $3 Million

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson set Johannes Mehserle's bail at $3 million. Jacobson told attorney Michael Rains Mehserle's story contained contradictions. Mehserle's official story is he was reaching for his taser. Jacobson noted Mehserle told other officers Oscar Grant had a gun. Jacobson does not believe a BART officer would reach for his taser to defend himself against an armed man. Other officers said Mehserle was going to "take" Grant.

Whatever version is true: there is little doubt Mehserle shot the subdued Grant in the back. Several cell phone cameras captured the shooting. Legally, Mehserle is not contesting he was the shooter. Mehserle claims not to know the difference between a gun and taser.

Bail was set on legal guidelines and the severity of the crime. Jacobson is afraid Mehserle is a flight risk.

Protesters were outside the courthouse. Grant's family and supporters are not happy about Mehserle being granted bail.



BART Police Chief Gary Gee has become part of the controversy. Gee sent a memo out on how BART officers can send money to Mehserle in jail.

"It is unacceptable for the police chief, who ostensibly is investigating Mehserle and other officers . . . to encourage officers to visit and make financial contributions to Mehserle," said attorney John Burris, who is representing the Grant family in a wrongful-death claim against the transit agency.

The mob mentality is scary. There have been riots and people want Mehserle sentenced yesterday. Mehserle disgraced the uniform. We still have a justice system and everybody is innocent until proven guilty. It is obvious the black community has long-standing grievancess with BART. Community leaders need to figure out how to improve relations between BART and the black community. Eventually, the Grant trial will be over. The problems will remain, unless addressed.

More On Johannes Mehserle

Accused Oscar Grant killer Johannes Mehserle hired high-powered defense attorney Michael Rains. Merserle pleaded not guilty to the murder of Grant.

Oakland resident Ken Carrethers is accusing former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle of using excessive force. Carrethers told East Bay News he complained to another subway passenger about BART police doing nothing about his car being twice broken into.

"Well you see that's why, because they're standing around with their hands in their pockets," Carrethers said to the other passenger.

Carrethers said Mehserle overheard the conversation.

"You're talking about us, aren't you?" Mehserle reportedly said.

Mehserle and Carrethers got into a verbal exchange. Carrethers denies using profanity. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mehserle and three other officers took Carrethers down to the pavement. Carrethers was sent to the hospital.

There are no eyewitnesses to the arrest. Carrethers has served prison time.

Raw Story has video of an interview with Carrethers

Oscar Grant Shooter Johannes Mehserle Arrested.

BART police officer Johannes Mehserle has been arrested in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Mehserle is charged with the murder of Oscar Grant.

Johannes Mehserle, the BART cop who shot and killed an unarmed man in Oakland on New Year's Day, sat behind bars in a Bay Area jail on Wednesday night, charged with murder.

Appearing in a Nevada court Wednesday, Mehserle waived extradition and returned to the Bay Area, where he was taken to Santa Rita Jail on the murder charge — a rare filing against a police officer — that was announced by Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff.

It is uncertain whether the final charge will be first or second degree murder. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff's statement leans toward a first degree murder charge.

"At this point, what I feel the evidence indicates is an unlawful killing done by an intentional act and from the evidence we have there is nothing that would mitigate that to something lower than a murder," Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff said.

Orloff told the San Francisco Chronicle there is video footage that did not get posted on the internet.

"The videos are very powerful on what act was committed," the district attorney said. "The issue likely to be in this case is, what was the mental state at the time that act was committed?"

The scene in Oakland is getting ugly. Mehserle's received a bomb threat. There is more vandalism from protesters. Oscar Grant's death will be felt, in the community, long after the trial verdict.