OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) -- Angry community groups on Thursday pressed top officials at BART for answers in the case of a former BART police officer who fatally shot a rider during a disturbance on New Year’s.
A standing room only crowed packed the transit agency’s ordinarily staid Board of Directors meeting the day after violent protesters left a trail of smashed windows and burned cars and dumpsters in their wake.
KCBS Team Coverage: Bob Melrose & Margie Shafer
Organizers of the demonstrations that devolved into riots denounced the violence. They blamed splinter groups for the smashed windows and other vandalism that followed a march down International Boulevard.
Members of the Committee Against Police Execution (CAPE) told KCBS reporter Bob Melrose outside the Kaiser Center their message was one of non-violence and the protest they planned was meant to be peaceful.
More than 100 people were arrested as police officers in riot gear used tear gas to control crowds outraged by the shooting death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant at Fruitvale Station.
Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who fired the shots captured in numerous cell phone videos resigned Wednesday, effectively halting the transit agency’s internal probe into the shooting since he can no longer be compelled to give a statement to BART investigators.
BART board members told KCBS’ Melrose they were considering establishing some sort of police oversight committee in the wake of the incident now being investigated independently by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Mayor Ron Dellums said the Oakland Police Department would conduct its own investigation of the fatal shooting.
(jro)
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