First let me tell you that Mehserle’s defense is being paid for by a statewide fund for police officers. I haven’t found out which one yet.

Edit: It’s the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association. Mehserle’s new attorney Michael Rains is listed on that page.

So what’s happened is… a man named Kenneth Carrethers has come forward about Johannes Mehserle, saying that Mehserle and his fellow gang members beat the shit out of him for no relevant reason.

BART spokesprick Linton Johnson said Carrethers’ “story” was “a little strange” and that Carrethers should have gone to the authorities instead of to the media.

Well golly gee, Linton, I’m sure you WOULD have rathered he do that. So you can cover it up. It’s utterly surreal that you would say such a thing with a straight face.

It was not BART—but the publicized VIDEOS—that got Oscar Grant’s case known at all, much less a BART cop on trial for murder. Were it not for the videos, BART’s illegal actions to cover up the crime would never have been known. Yet you want Carrethers—not to speak to the media—but to report the beating to BART? After everyone already knew that BART’s immediate response after Oscar was murdered was criminal?

I’ll say that again. Your advice to Carrethers (and anyone else)… is to report the beating to BART after everyone knew that BART’s immediate response after they murdered Oscar was criminal?

You are either a colossal prick who doesn’t give a fuck if the public knows what mobsters BART is comprised of (I can hear you goons admitting it and asking me, “What are you going to do about it, cunt?”—and you’d be absolutely right)… or you are fucking stupid. I don’t really care which, Linton, because your statement is ridiculous either way.

Especially in light of Oscar Grant’s murder; and the documented evidence of illegal actions taken by BART employees in attempts to cover up the murder they just participated in (and obscured the justice of). Etcetera.

Carrethers’ attorney, John Scott, says that because of his client and probably other incidents of excessive force by Mehserle, Oscar Grant’s murder was predictable and preventable.

Mehserle’s behavior since the murder may be legally favorable to him: as we all know he’s a cop so he knew exactly what to do. And he faithfully executed it without any snags. He has special knowledge of how they falsify reports (he’s probably done it so many times he couldn’t tell you an exact number) as well as what to do if you’re accused of murder. Which is intel that cops prefer us not to know and usually actively HIDE from us. Yes, Mehserle’s choices seem legally smart and sane.

But they also appear methodical and cold. Like he’d already gone through the scenario in his head—which is utterly conceivable since we now know he’s had a history of bullying civilians, probably falsifying reports, etcetera.

The idea that Mehserle approached Carrethers accusing him of “talking about him” is astounding to me.

Is BART a police agency? Or a middle school?

I wasn’t aware that anyone had the right to beat someone down—or even arrest them in the first place—just because they overheard a comment that was critical or derogatory to police in general or to a specific cop.

This makes Mehserle look like a mental adolescent. The man approached a stranger, accused the stranger of “talking about him”, an argument ensues, Mehserle gets physical and the other members of his gang joins him.

We would not approve of this behavior from a neighbor, a friend, a garbage collector, a waitress… why should we think it’s okay if the thug is a cop?

We shouldn’t.