lawsuit

Oakland City Attorney keeps his promise, files suit against July 8th “vandals”

Earlier this year, Oakland City Attorney John Russo vowed to sue protesters who “trashed” downtown Oakland during the July 8th civil disturbances that followed the involuntary manslaughter conviction of former BART officer Johannes Mehserle.

Russo held true to his word. Today, his office announced the filing of a civil lawsuit against four individuals arrested for various acts of looting or vandalism. Up to twenty “Does” – people who may later be added to the lawsuit – are also included. The intent of the lawsuit is to recoup damages inflicted on city property and JC Jewelry, a store on Broadway that was broken into and ransacked on July 8th.

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FILED UNDER: Courts, Johannes Mehserle, John Russo, July 8, lawsuit, Oakland, Oakland City Attorney

September 9, 2010 | 5:55 PM | By Ali Winston

Lack of transparency hurts police-community relations in LA, SF

For the past three days, Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood has been roiled by protests following the fatal officer-involved shooting of a Guatemalan day laborer. 37-year-old Manuel Jamines was shot twice by Los Angeles Police Department officer Frank Hernandez after he waved a knife at Hernandez and two other officers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Hernandez has been involved in two previous shootings, both nonfatal and determined to be in compliance with department policy. However, concerns about officer misconduct have been raised today after a woman who claimed she witnessed the shooting told reporters that Jamines was not holding a knife when he was shot by Hernandez. Continue reading →