OAKLAND (KRON) -- Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle is now out of jail on bail for the killing for unarmed passenger Oscar Grant.

The Alameda County Sheriff's department confirms Mehserle left the Santa Rita jail at 3:45 p.m. Friday.  He was released after posting a $300,000 cash alternative to the $3,000,000 bail he was given in the case.  His release comes a full week after a judge had granted bail in the case.

Mehserle remains charged with murder for shooting Oscar Grant on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station early on New Year's morning.  In court documents released by his lawyer, the former officer says he meant to reach for his taser instead of his firearm when the shooting happened.

BART says it has no official reaction to the release.  Mehserle's attorney says he's under a gag order and can't comment. 

The shooting has prompted massive and sometimes violent protests in Oakland.  Nine people were arrested after a demonstration that coincided with the court hearing in which Mehserle was granted bail.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums is calling for calm in the wake of the latest developments.

“I call again for peace in our streets," the mayor said in a written statement.  " In challenging violence, we must not engage in violence. In challenging injustice, let us not engage in unjust acts. In Oakland, peace and protest are compatible, but we will not allow violence and vandalism in our city. We must treat each other and our city with respect and dignity while the outcome of this case is determined by judge and jury.”

The attorney representing the Grant family agreed.

"I'd rather that he remained in custody," Attorney John Burris said Friday. "We hope the public will not create any social unrest as a consequence of this. The family wants peace and the process to flow in the normal course of events."

Mehserle was arrested in the Lake Tahoe area where he had moved after reports of threats on his family.  Relatives in Napa report they've been the subject of threats involving suspicious devices. 

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