By DAVID A. LIEB and JIM SALTER
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) - The first night of a state-imposed curfew in
Ferguson, Missouri, ended with tear gas and arrests of some protesters,
but it wasn't the curfew violation that precipitated the confrontation.
A team of officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis
city and county police moved armored vehicles down the street of the St.
Louis suburb just after the midnight curfew Sunday. It turned out the
timing was coincidental, said patrol Capt. Ron Johnson.
Police received a report that people broke into Red's Barbecue and
some were on the roof - creating a potential danger for officers trying
to disperse the protesters. Police were responding to that report - not
the fact that protesters were still on the street after curfew, Johnson
said.
Things got worse when a man with a handgun went into the street as
police were nearing the restaurant. He ran away, but there was plenty of
violence.
A man was shot and critically wounded in the same area. Police were
searching for the shooter. Someone shot at a police car - it wasn't
clear if it was hit.
"I was disappointed in the actions of tonight," Johnson said.
Police used smoke and tear gas on protesters who refused to move
back, essentially ending the confrontation nearly an hour after the
midnight curfew. Seven people were arrested for failure to disperse.
Saturday marked a week since a white Ferguson officer, Darren Wilson,
shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9. The shooting
ignited racial tension in the mostly-black suburb and has led to looting
and several run-ins between police and protesters.
As the curfew deadline arrived Sunday, remaining protesters -
chanting "No justice! No curfew!" - refused to leave the area. And as
five armored tactical vehicles approached the crowd, officers spoke
through a loudspeaker: "You are in violation of a state-imposed curfew.
You must disperse immediately. Failure to comply, may result in arrest."
As officers put on gas masks, a chant from the distant crowd emerged: "We have the right to assemble peacefully."
A moment later, police began firing canisters into the crowd of protesters.
Highway Patrol Spokesman Lt. John Hotz initially said police only
used smoke, but later told The Associated Press that they also fired
tear gas canisters. He said of police efforts: "Obviously, we're trying
to give them every opportunity to comply with the curfew."
Jayson Ross, who was leading the protesters toward police before the
canisters were fired, said: "They got guns. We got guns. We are ready."
The unrest between police and protesters came after Gov. Jay Nixon on Saturday declared a state of emergency in Ferguson.
Nixon's curfew announcement came after tensions again flared in
Ferguson late Friday night. Earlier that day, local police identified
the officer who shot Brown as Darren Wilson and released documents and
video footage alleging that Brown had robbed a convenience store just
before he was shot. Police said Wilson was unaware Brown was a suspect
when he encountered him walking in the street with a friend.
In announcing the curfew, Nixon said that though many protesters were
making themselves heard peacefully, the state would not allow looters
to endanger the community.
"I am committed to making sure the forces of peace and justice
prevail," Nixon said during a press conference at a church that was
interrupted repeatedly by people objecting to the curfew and demanding
that the officer who shot Brown be charged with murder.
"We must first have and maintain peace. This is a test. The eyes of
the world are watching," Nixon said. "We cannot allow the ill will of
the few to undermine the good will of the many."
State statute gives the governor broad powers when he declares a
state of emergency, but he hasn't indicated that he plans to do anything
other than imposing the curfew and empowering the state highway patrol
to enforce it.
Meanwhile, Nixon said the U.S. Department of Justice is beefing up its civil rights investigation of the shooting.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who is in charge of
security in Ferguson, said 40 FBI agents were going door-to-door in the
neighborhood starting Saturday, talking to people who might have seen or
have information about the shooting.
Johnson on Saturday said police would not enforce the curfew with
armored trucks and tear gas but would communicate with protesters and
give them ample opportunity to leave. Local officers faced strong
criticism earlier in the week for their use of tear gas and rubber
bullets against protesters. Johnson said one tear gas canister was
deployed Friday night after the group of rioters became unruly and
several officers got trapped and injured.
Brown's death had already ignited several days of clashes with
furious protesters. Tensions eased Thursday after Nixon turned oversight
of the protests over to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Gone were the
police in riot gear and armored vehicles, replaced by the new patrol
commander who personally walked through the streets with demonstrators.
But Friday night marked a resurgence of unrest.
On Saturday, some residents said it appeared the violent acts were
being committed by people who came from other suburbs or states.
Wilson, the officer who shot Brown, is a six-year police veteran who
had no previous complaints against him, the local police chief has said.
The Ferguson Police Department has refused to say anything about
Wilson's whereabouts, and Associated Press reporters were unable to
contact him at any addresses or phone numbers listed under that name in
the St. Louis area.
Wilson has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting. St.
Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said it could be weeks before the
investigation wraps up.
http://www.aol.com/article/2014/08/17/police-deploy-tear-gas-to-impose-ferguson-curfew/20948063/?ncid=webmail15
