After two days of relative peace, looting and violence fell on Ferguson again Friday night.
The store where Michael Brown stole cigars and man-handled a clerk was the primary target of the action. The violence bubbled up late in the evening, after many of the protesters and media in the St. Louis suburb had declared that the night would end peacefully.
But a group of agitators squared off with authorities. The armored officers and SWAT units that had been replaced after a massive altercation on Wednesday were brought back to clear the streets after agitated protesters began getting out of hand and throwing bottles.
Later, they began looting.
It will be a miracle if this night ends without a serious injury or death. Hearing ambulance sirens now. #Ferguson
— Joel D. Anderson (@blackink12) August 16, 2014
#Ferguson Market & Liquor is, for lack of a better word, being looted. pic.twitter.com/SshAUjBXi5
— Joel D. Anderson (@blackink12) August 16, 2014
And another store on W Florissant is going down: Sam’s Meat Market & More. It was cleaned out on Monday too. #Ferguson
— Joel D. Anderson (@blackink12) August 16, 2014
inside looted store that cops said Mike Brown robbed. This is what it looks like: pic.twitter.com/6o0BObZ9Dp
— Amy K. Nelson (@AmyKNelson) August 16, 2014
Ferguson Market was heaviest hit. The small store became a focal point Friday after Ferguson police chief Tom Jackson announced that Brown was the prime suspect in a strong-arm robbery that took place there minutes before he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson.
Thursday was hailed as a new beginning. Ferguson and St. Louis County police had been criticized for their heavy-handed police tactics, which included the use of mine-resistant military vehicles, SWAT units, tear gas and rubber bullets. The agencies justified the armored display as a legitimate response to heavy looting that occurred Sunday.
Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson to manage the police presence and interact with the community. Johnson, a native of Ferguson, walked the streets and interacted with residents, protesters and the media in an effort to prevent violence.
But the mood changed Friday after Jackson released Wilson’s name. At the same time, Jackson also released the bombshell that Brown had been involved in the strong-arm robbery.
Brown family attorneys and protesters voiced outrage at the timing of the information release. They generally felt that the information was being released in order to smear Brown’s name by making it seem as if he deserved to be shot.
Jackson did not help lay that concern to rest. After releasing Wilson’s name he had to clarify later that Wilson did not know Brown took part in a robbery before he encountered the 18-year-old. And Jackson clarified further by saying that Wilson realized during the encounter that Brown was likely responsible for the robbery, which the officer had heard reported on dispatch radio.
On Friday, Brown family attorney Anthony Gray predicted that any violence that occurred Friday night would be Jackson’s responsibility.
But others blame Johnson and the State Highway Patrol.
Former St. Louis County police chief Tim Fitch said that police were reluctant to intervene in the looting.
You did not see “police restraint” overnight. You saw police reluctant to act. We cannot keep stoning the keepers at the gate.
— Tim Fitch (@ChiefTimFitch) August 16, 2014
Though police were on hand to clear the streets, they apparently did not attempt to stop the looting. One store owner told Fox 2 that they are angry that state police drove by their looted store without stopping.
Damage-looting at #Ferguson beauty supp and Ferg Mkt & liq. State PD drove by without stopping @FOX2now owners livid pic.twitter.com/e42pv7azM4
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) August 16, 2014
Fox 2 in St. Louis reported that St. Louis County police said they were instructed to stand down.
St. Louis County Police say they were told to stand down by the Missouri State Highway Patrol #Ferguson
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014
Owners at Sam’s Meat Market resorted to defending their own store after looters had torn it apart.
Photo: Guys standing guard outside of Sam’s meat market right now at 5:50am holding guns pic.twitter.com/sOtYatFX0M
— Benjamin Boyd (@benjaminhboyd) August 16, 2014
Owners of SAMs Meat Market defending their store because they say police won’t. @FOX2now #ferguson pic.twitter.com/TTG2eaCw5d
— George Sells (@GeorgeSells) August 16, 2014
The Missouri State Highway Patrol plans to hold a news conference Saturday afternoon.
