Crime

Officer Involved Shooting in Marin Causes Tension

Published

12 years ago

July 11, 2013

Marin City experienced its first officer involved shooting in a nearly a decade, raising questions about whether this normally calm city is being affected by the crime surge in surrounding cities.

Last Sunday, a Marin County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol when he saw 44-year-old Chaka Grayson. From previous contact, the officer knew Grayson was driving on a suspended license, according to the Sheriff’s office.

The deputy “noticed that Mr. Grayson ducked down,” the Sheriff’s office said When asked to show his hands, according to the official press release, “Grayson accelerated his vehicle towards the deputy,” causing him to fire several rounds.

The incident has caused tension in the community with residents requesting a thorough investigation of the incident. Bystanders who witnessed the shooting allegedly threw rocks, wounding the involved deputy.

A group of pastors who were on the scene made sure Grayson received the medical attention he needed while also working to decrease the rising tension from community members.

Rev. Rondell Leggett of First Missionary Baptist in Marin [City] said he was at the scene only to “try and keep the peace”.

“There were people there that were traumatized by the whole incident,” Leggett said. “There was a lot of attention and concern from residents, and I wanted to ensure it wouldn’t escalate.”

Leggett says Marin [City] is still a “safe place filled with compassionate people,” but issues surrounding healthcare, poverty, and the city’s deteriorating educational system fuel the community’s frustration. This officer involved shooting only heightens the anger.

“All of those things contribute to the tension,” Leggett said. “It’s going to take further discussion on both sides to sit down and talk about it.”

Lieutenant Bruce Baker of the Marin County Sheriff Department said comment could not be made on the incident but noted that the Novato Police Department is now handling the investigation.

Lt. Baker also said that in recent years the department has done numerous activities to build a stronger relationship in the community. Though not yet scheduled, there will be community meetings to discuss the matter, said Baker.

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Activism

Group Takes First Steps to Recall District Attorney Diana Becton

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency. On their social media post, they say: “We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states. “We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.” Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Published

4 days ago

March 24, 2025

Oakland Post

Diana Becton has served at the Contra Costa County District Attorney since 2017. Richmond Standard photo.

By Post Staff

After gathering more than 100 verified signatures, a group led by crime victims delivered a ‘notice of intent’ to the offices of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton seeking her recall.

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency.

On their social media post, they say:

“We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states.

“We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.”

Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Becton has seven days to respond. According to the East Bay Times, her office spokesperson said her “answer will be her public comment.”

After Becton responds, according to the Contra Costa County Elections Office, Recall Diana Becton must then finalize the petition language and gather signatures of a minimum of 10% of registered voters (72,000) in 160 days before it can go on the ballot for election.

She is the third Bay Area district attorney whose constituents wanted them removed from office. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was removed from office in 2021 and last year, Pamela Price lost her position in a recall election.

Of the top 10 proponents of Becton’s recall, three are the families of Alexis Gabe, Thomas Arellano, and Damond Lazenby Jr.

In each of those cases, the families say Becton failed to pursue prosecution, allowed a plea deal instead of a trial in a slaying and questioned the coroner’s report in a fatal car crash.

Some political science experts suggest that, in the Bay Area there may be a bit of copycat syndrome going on.

In many states, recalls are not permitted at all, but in California, not only are they permitted but the ability to put one into motion is easy.

“Only 10% of registered voters in a district are needed just to start the process of getting the effort onto the ballot,” Garrick Percival, a political science professor told the East Bay Times. “It makes it easy to make the attempt.”

But according to their website, the Recall Diana Becton group express their loss of faith in the prosecutor.

“Her lack of transparency regarding crime in this county, and her attempts to keep her offenders out of jail have left us disheartened,” the recall group wrote.

Petitioners say they are acting not just for themselves but other crime victims “who feel ignored, exasperated and hopeless in their pursuit of justice for themselves or their loved ones.”

KRON TV, The East Bay Times, and Wikipedia are the sources for this report.