Monday, January 12, 2009

State Attorney Jerry Brown appoints prosecutor to oversee BART probe

By Kamika Dunlap / Oakland Tribune

OAKLAND — State Attorney General Jerry Brown designated a key prosecutor from his office who will closely monitor the investigation of the killing of an unarmed man by a BART police officer.

Brown made his announcement Saturday at a news conference after meeting with Alice Huffman, president of the California National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other Bay Area black leaders.

By appointing a representative from his office, which he would not identify by name, Brown said he plans to keep a watchful eye on the investigation into the New Year's Day shooting of Oscar Grant III by former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle.

The incident captured on cell phones and digital camera videos and replayed on national television stations has sparked public outcry. The videos appear to show Grant being killed as he lay facedown and unarmed on the BART platform.

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