Mehserle jury reaches verdict - scheduled to be read about 4 p.m.(BART shooting)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

Shit, just saw this on the SFChron site.

Hopefully everyone will keep their cool here. :(

http://www.sfgate.com

On edit:

"Here" is SF/Oakland Bay area.

[slackmaster]

1. Excellent news

:popcorn:

[geek tragedy]

2. That was fast. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Time to batten down the hatches

And I mean it.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. I am in Bayview/Hunter's Point right now --

and I am seriously hoping the Community keeps it together if the verdict comes in for the BART cop.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. True story from Rodney King

I was writing my masters at the time, and working in Mexico as a medic. So knowing better I took my work radio to college with me. And instead of listening to the AM\FM I was listening to SDPD Tactical channel... so I am in the middle of making copies of Colonial papers... when the call for mutual aid comes in by SDPD for help from... San Diego State campus police.

Well that is highly unusual, and we had an event to boot... a conference on campus. Now I put my things away and walked over to my dean's office, knowing this was highly unusual. I pointed out to him that we might want to move this event off campus and just how ahem interesting things are getting. Mind you, local news media was not breaking this in YET (they actually covered that very little)... and he, being a good civilian, goes how do you know? I bring out radio and turn the volume up. Yep ten code, and he had that look of YOU UNDERSTAND THAT GIBBERISH?

Well before he could say a word, the College President calls informing the Dean college had to implement evac procedures and it was effectively closed. I had that look of... what did I just tell you? So I volunteered to help evac my department, remember there are no more cops on campus, so dean ID's me to College President and I got to get people off campus. Not just one building, but a few... and I ended up evacuating a few of my professors and defusing ONE really bad situation where we could have become mulch.

I went home... instead of the alternate site for the event. The prof asked why and I said, you are three blocks from the problem area... no thank you. We had tickets for the Padres game that afternoon, my sis and I staid home. Hell that weekend it was so damn tense I did not go to work in TJ either. At the time both SDPD and we in the Red Cross in Mexico used Khakhi uniforms...

So yes I get it. Even if this goes the "right way" regardless of what that is... it will be tense for a few hours, at least.

Oh and the media did not go really full force on the local riot to help contain it. And to this day I am torn on that. I know a few stores were torched and all that, but it did not grow. On the other hand, we had a right to know. And to this day, when it gets "hot" I listen to tactical channels... and they are entertaining to boot from time to time...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

16. Ah yes, I remember that day.

What a place to be, for you. That must have been surreal. Media can be such a doble edged sword. Yes, you want to know what is really going on, yes you want to know the facts but there is that line that can be crossed where media creates an impression of an event that may or may not be true. :(

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. It was surrreal

and that day I was thankful I was NOT wearing any uniform.

What is true is that I had to go take an exam straight from work three weeks later. MCI... so literally I had been up for close to forty hours...

College Dean went OH MY when he saw me in that smelly uniform, with all bells, whistles and railroad tracks (Captain rank devices on shoulders)... and the guy I was friends to from ROTC did not know what to do. I mean HE WAS in uniform, I was in uniform, and at the moment I was a commissioned officer from another army... so I gave him the direct order to stand down...and chiefly not get everybody embarrassed, and yes the army does salute indoors, took my test, went home to the shower and slept to next day...

Oh and I got an A to boot.

:-)

I could not do any of this shit any more I admit. If you know the ten code though you could find San Fran tacnet on the web. IT is the best way to know what is going on. And since you know the city...

[Ignis]

4. It's going to be an exciting rush hour.

[Mike 03]

6. The speed of this verdict feels ominous.

Here are two other great sources for constant coverage:

http://www.kgoam810.com/

http://kcbs.cbslocal.com/

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Yes, they didn't deliberate very long --

most of the time spend was because of juror issues.

[Mike 03]

8. Exactly. Jurors falling ill, jurors going on vacation.

It will be interesting if jurors speak to the press.

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. His defense was so shoddy...

...I mean...he thought it was his tazer? I guess that's remotely possible, but why would he taze a man who was already subdued and face-down on the ground?

[frylock]

10. why would he taze a man who was already subdued and face-down on the ground?

because he could.

[TroglodyteScholar]

12. I wasn't really expecting an answer...

...but that sounds about right. "I'll show this boy who's boss..."

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. I believe he did shoot Oscar Grant accidently.

I watched the video many times and that is what it appeared to be from my viewpoint. I think it was an insane, tragic accident that did NOT need to happen.

That the officers dealing with Grant and his friends overreacted is plain. There was no need to pull a taser, let alone a gun. Another case of cops who are frickin' out of control and resort to the weapon most handy at the belt to deal with a situation that was, essentialy, under control.

I have LONG wondered just what the hell BART officers are doing carrying guns. It does not make any sense to me, and this is exactly the kind of result I expected to happen. :(

[Ignis]

33. Thanks, this mirrors of my own feelings on the situation.

There was no need to quickly draw-and-fire any weapon at that point. The cop was in control of the situation, but not of his emotions.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. Cops LOVE LOVE LOVE their tasers.

It has become an easy out for them when they no longer want to handle a situation. There was a story just last week about a cop who tasered a sick, old woman in her bed rather than handle the situation with a it of smarts, patience, and creativty.

That is why I really hate tasers -- it is so easy to reach for one, cops are doing it as second nature these days.

[proud patriot]

15. Praying for peace here

:-(

[Hell Hath No Fury]

17. Hey PP!

I am so happy to see you! :loveya: I'm keeping the good thoughts for our home as well. :hi:

[Ignis]

20. +1

[EFerrari]

18. Oh, dear.

Kick.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. Reports from Oakland City Hall --

from KGO news:

Businesses around City Hall are closing up and boarding windows in case of a repeat of last years riot. Traffic is heavy with drivers trying to leave the area. Local council person on now saying there will be people at the plaza to peacefully display their feelings on the verdict.

On edit:

City Hall workers were given a two hour notice the verdict was in.

Not many people at the Plaza as of right now, mostly folks trying to leave the area.

40 protesters in the front of the Court House

Protesters now saying the verdict is "not good enough".

Mayor Ron Dellums is at Police headquarters. There are currenty no plans for mutual aid from other area forces.

All traffic near or going through downtown Oakland (including freeways) is badly backed up.

Sentancing will be in August.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

24. Verdict is IN: nvoluntary Manslaughter

[joshcryer]

21. Involuntary manslaughter

[Parker CA]

22. Guilty of inoluntary manslaughter. Verdict just read.

[Ignis]

23. Wow, the SF Gate site is SLAMMED.

And those guys have a pretty big pipe. :wow:

[EFerrari]

27. I can't even get in. n/t

[Ignis]

28. Yeah, I'm a little surprised.

I understand that every single person in the Bay Area is trying to get to the site at the same time :) but they should have had enough time today to buy extra bandwidth to cope with the flood.

[EFerrari]

32. Oops. Someone was just asked live by Ch 4 what they thought of the jury

and the gentleman said, they're fucking retarded. No delay.

[asdjrocky]

26. Stockton waits with Oakland and the Bay.

[Ignis]

29. LINK to story on verdict:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/08/BAM21EBDOD.DTL&tsp=1

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Ye managed to get in

good for you.

Hopefully that will keep the powder keg from going off.

[asdjrocky]

31. Involuntary manslaughter.

There is no justice.