Activists want more BART officers charged

OAKLAND, CA (KGO) -- Community activists are demanding to know why more BART police officers haven't been charged with crimes, for actions leading up to the shooting death of a passenger.

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Former BART officer Johannes Mehserle has been charged with murder for the New Year's Day shooting of Oscar Grant.

They are singling out one officer in particular Tony Pirone. They say Pirone used excessive force for hitting Oscar Grant prior to the shooting that took his life.

About 12 people showed up to the steps of the courthouse, and they brought petitions with nearly 20,000 signatures, and they wanted to know why Pirone was not in trouble.

On the home video shot, Officer Pirone is shown with his back to the camera when Grant is being shot by former BART Officer Johannes Mehserle.

Videos on the Internet show Officer Pirone hitting Grant before gunshots were fired, but it doesn't show what led up to that incident.

"There are serious questions about how Orloff's office has dealt with this case, and it's given Alameda County a terrible record of prosecuting police abuses. You can't simply trust that the DA's office will pursuit justice wherever it needs," said James Rucker for colorofchange.org.

Protestors took the petitions to the DA Tom Orloff's office. They were handed to investigators, and they did not get answers to their questions or a meeting with the DA.

Mehserle is charged with murder and out on bail. He said he meant to pull his Taser out, but instead pulled out his gun.

Orloff said he doesn't have any plans to prosecute any other BART police officers  at least he said that a couple of weeks ago, and it's unknown is that has changed.

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