In a dramatic story that has been stoked by amateur YouTube videos, the aftermath of the fatal New Year’s Day shooting of a young man by a BART officer unfolded Wednesday on several fronts – with protests, a funeral and an announcement that the officer had resigned. Late Wednesday, Oakland police responded to scattered disturbances as hundreds of protesters gathered around the Lake Merritt BART station, overturned trash cans, lit a dumpster on fire and rocked a police car back and forth. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. It was unclear whether there were any arrests or injuries. Earlier that day, more than 1000 people turned out at a Hayward church to remember Oscar Grant III , who one worshipper called “the apple of God’s eyes.” Cell phone videos apparently show Grant face down being shot by an officer standing over him. On the same day, as word spread that Officer Johannes Mehserle had quit the force, about 50 protesters met with Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff to demand that his office file charges against Mehserle in the shooting at the Fruitvale BART station. After initially resisting, Orloff let the protesters into his office, but excluded about a dozen members of the press waiting outside in the lobby. The group included 10 local pastors, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, and Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks, who has called Grant’s death “an execution.” BART officials announced Wednesday that Mehserle, 27, had resigned. Earlier …
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