Officer Jason Fletcher . "It is important that we allow the judicial process to take its course. Rains said a judge told prosecutors "They will never, ever convict this officer," and he believes O'Malley should dismiss the case. His older half-brother, Kenneth Blackmon, recently retired from the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department after 20 years. The San Leandro Police released body camera and cell phone footage of the shooting in an April 22 briefing that can be watched below (warning graphic content): While prosecutors say Taylor was feeling the effects of the Taser when he was shot, San Leandro Police said in its press release on the incident that the stun gun was not effective, and Taylor continued walking toward the officers, before he was shot. According to the report, Fletcher and other officers were dispatched for a shoplifter holding a baseball bat. DA O'Malley: Charges Filed Against San Leandro Officer Jason Fletcher in Killing of Steven Taylor, according to the probable cause statement, according to the voluntary manslaughter law. Body cam footage from the incident shows Fletcher - a 20- year veteran of the police department - holding a Taser in one hand and a gun in the other as Taylor holds a bat inside the store. A recent state law requires police to use deadly force only when they "reasonably believe," given all the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend human life. The charges against Fletcher are the first against a police officer by District Attorney Nancy O'Malley in her time as Alameda County's top prosecutor. San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher kneels over Steven Taylor (R) after shooting him inside a Walmart in 2020. For the families that we work with, thats the number one thing they want and they never get in terms of justice is for the officers that killed their loved ones to be charged and ultimately convicted, said Cat Brooks with the Anti-Police Terror Project. In 2019, Fletcher was paid a total of $267,493.90, including benefits, according to Transparent California. She said in the lawsuit there was no probable cause for her arrest. Christopher Samayoa, the San Francisco police officer who fatally shot 42-year-old Keita O'Neil on Dec. 1, 2017, faces manslaughter and assault charges. Fletcher then used his left hand to pull out his stun gun and pointed it at Taylor, telling him twice to drop the bat. Ex-officer faces $10M lawsuit related to fatal 2020 shooting inside a Walmart. In Maryland: D.C. man, charged with firing gun in Hagerstown home and fleeing police, denied bail, More: Police: Maryland man dropped gun during struggle with officer. Taylor had said he would wait for the police, and he stood by the shopping carts, prosecutors said. Fletcher's attorney Michael Rains with Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle, and Silver said they will be filing a motion to dismiss the case. According to the district attorneys office: The store security guard Danny Saephanh called 911 reporting the theft and possible robbery. Attorney Michael Rains represented him. Circulation & Delivery In disturbing cellphone and body-camera video of the encounter, Taylor can be seen standing in the stores checkout area when Fletcher approaches him and tries unsuccessfully to take the bat. He fired the stun gun at Taylor as he again approached, according to prosecutors. SAN Leandro Police officer Jason Fletcher faces manslaughter charges in the killing of Steven Demarco Taylor, who was fatally shot inside a Walmart. Store security told Taylor they had called the police. Show More Show Less 3 of 3. Taylor, a Black . A woman stood nearby. A woman stood nearby. San Leandro Police Chief Jeff Tudor spoke out on Wednesday after Fletcher was charged. D.C. man, charged with firing gun in Hagerstown home and fleeing police, denied bail, Police: Maryland man dropped gun during struggle with officer, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Officer Jason Fletcher is the first law enforcement officer in the Bay Area to face charges in the death of a civilian in over a decade, since BART Officer Johannes Mehserle shot and killed Oscar . He grabbed an aluminum bat when security confronted him. The Alameda County District Attorney announced Wednesday that she has filed a criminal complaint against Officer Jason Fletcher. The lawsuit was filed on April 15 and seeks $10 million in damages from the city for the death of Taylor who was shot by Officer Jason Fletcher at the Hesperian Blvd. He was pronounced dead at the scene.O'Malley said her decision to file charges "was made after an intensive investigation and thorough analysis of the evidence and the current law. The case is the first time Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley has filed criminal charges against a police officer in a fatal shooting. All concern killings that occurred before Floyds death, the earliest reaching back five years. Three of the people killed were Black men. SLPD Community Briefing Video Officer Involved Shooting 04/18/20. She accused Fletcher and Morgan of assaulting, striking and beating her in the face, arms, head and body, causing injuries. Price and others have accused OMalley, who has been a prosecutor since 1984, of being too lenient on police. He fired the stun gun at Taylor as he again approached, according to prosecutors. San Leandro Police Chief Jeff Tudor said in a statement after charges were brought against his office, As the Police Chief of San Leandro, I know the loss of Steven Taylor has deeply affected this community. Fletcher could not be reached for comment by Heavy. Store security stopped him and asked him to return them. After eight years there, he joined the Fairfield Police Department in Solano County, the newspaper reports. Taylor dropped the bat, turned, and fell. The office of Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley said that Steven Taylor, 33, did not pose an imminent threat to anyone in the store or to the officer, Jason Fletcher, when he shot Taylor to death April 18. After multiple attempts to make Taylor comply, Fletcher deployed his Taser two times before firing a single shot. The DA has denied violating the agreement. Taylor's family says the 33-year-old was suffering from a mental health crisis when he was at the Walmart, and they were hoping Thursday the case would be closer to concluding. Hes a human being, she said. He needed help. Pursuant to Penal Code Section 835a(a), the California Legislature declared that the authority to use physical force conferred on peace officers is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. My son had a nice, honest education. Body camera footage showed the suspect, Steven Taylor, standing by shopping carts near the front of the store, still holding the bat, as Fletcher arrived at the scene, alone. Store security told Taylor they had called police. Alameda County's prosecution of San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher is the singular Bay Area case that relies on Assembly Bill 392, a 2020 state law that only justifies the use of deadly force when an officer believes, "based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary," as opposed to the previous standard of . Keep up with the news bydownloading KTVU's news appandsubscribing to our newsletter. After Fletcher shot Taylor a second time with the Taser, Taylor stumbled forward, prosecutors said. San Leandro Police/Facebook Fletcher shot Taylor after less than 40. seconds after arriving even as backup officers were also arriving at the scene. / CBS San Francisco. It was [an] involuntarily break from reality, Merritt said. He was charged in January 2010 with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and voluntary manslaughter in the January 2009 shooting death of Oscar Grant at a Bay Are Rapid Transit Authority station, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Taylor had said he would wait for the police, and he stood by the shopping carts, prosecutors said. (San Leandron PD/Family photo) seconds after arriving even as backup officers . I credit less the evolution of her ideology or heart. In both cases, Fletcher was accused of using excessive force during arrests. If it had been Sean that had done what this officer did, he wouldnt see the light of day. Oct 2015 - Present7 years 4 months. OAKLAND (BCN) - A judge denied a motion Tuesday morning to dismiss voluntary manslaughter charges against former San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher for the death of a shoplifter last year . That was not a commonly held conversation in the profession., Alameda Countys prosecution of San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher is the singular Bay Area case that relies on Assembly Bill 392, a 2020 state law that only justifies the use of deadly force when an officer believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary, as opposed to the previous standard of reasonable.. OMalley defeated civil rights attorney Pamela Price in 2018. Fletcher allegedly did not comply and fled with the officer entangled in his vehicle, the release said. After Fletcher went in the store, he and security guard Danny Saephanh talked for about 10 seconds about what was going on.Then, Fletcher radioed police dispatchers and said it was not a robbery or a brandishing situation, according to the charging document in the case.Fletcher approached Taylor without waiting for the second officer, prosecutors said.With his left hand, Fletcher allegedly tried to take the bat from Taylor's right hand, pulling out his gun at the same time. Advertising Info Justice demands this process to be done in an unbiased and legally sound manner.. His name was not made public by police and he was only identified after he was charged by the district attorneys office. Fletcher entered the store and he and security guard Danny Saephanh talked for about 10 seconds about what was going on. She said: The way our police should be reformed is to help people with mental illnesses; that when you call an officer on a Black person, its not going to end well. District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley of Alameda County said in a statement on Wednesday that charging Officer Jason Fletcher of the San Leandro Police Department "is not a decision that is made . Ultimately, however, neither the graphic body camera footage nor expert testimony convinced the jury of Blounts guilt. With his left hand, Fletcher allegedly tried to take the bat from Taylor's right hand, pulling out his gun at the same time. Two customers tried to help Taylor. According to the complaint: Security Guard Saephanh then pointed out Mr. Taylor standing next to the shopping carts. The case is the first time Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley has filed criminal charges against a police officer in a fatal shooting. Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but not guilty of the more serious charges, and served a year of a two-year prison sentence, according to the Chronicle. 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