"Judge Clifford Blakely's ruling came after Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson's office asked to bring an end to the case, citing concerns about proving the allegations at trial, which was been scheduled to begin in late January. The dismissal closes the first Alameda County case of a police officer charged in an on-duty killing since BART Officer Johannes Mehserle was tried - and convicted - in the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant more than 15 years ago."
"Speaking from the bench at the end of a nearly two-hour long hearing, Blakely said he couldn't help but side with prosecutors' wishes to dismiss the case. Fletcher was charged with manslaughter for the 2020 on-duty killing of Steven Taylor inside a San Leandro Walmart. "Quite frankly, I cannot escape the conclusion that the evidence does provide substantial support for that position," Blakely said."
An Alameda County judge dismissed manslaughter charges against former San Leandro police Officer Jason Fletcher after prosecutors asked to end the case, citing doubts about proving allegations at trial scheduled for late January. The charge stemmed from Fletcher's 2020 on-duty killing of Steven Taylor inside a San Leandro Walmart. Judge Clifford Blakely said the evidence provided substantial support for prosecutors' position. The dismissal marks the first Alameda County on-duty officer case since the Johannes Mehserle conviction in the Oscar Grant shooting. Family members, including Taylor's grandmother Addie Kitchen, pleaded to continue the case and reacted angrily to the ruling.
Read at The Mercury News
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