80 held as protests turn violent for a third night
ST LOUIS: More than 80 people were arrested on Sunday night as protests here over the acquittal of a white policeman who had shot a black man turned violent for a third night running.
Police in riot gear used pepper spray and arrested the demonstrators who had defied orders to disperse following a larger, peaceful protest.
After nightfall, a small group remained and the scene turned to one of disorder, following the pattern of Friday and Saturday. Protesters smashed windows and attempted to block a ramp to an interstate highway, police and witnesses said.
Mayor Lyda Krewson said “the vast majority of protesters are non-violent”, and blamed the trouble on “a group of agitators”.
Acting police commissioner Lawrence O’Toole struck a hard stance, saying: “We’re in control, this is our city and we’re going to protect it.”
The protests here followed the acquittal on Friday of former police officer Jason Stockley, 36, of first-degree murder in shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith, 24.
The violence evoked memories of the riots following the 2014 shooting of a black teenager by a white officer in nearby Ferguson, Missouri.
Police reported confiscating weapons, including handguns, and recovered plastic spray bottles containing an unknown chemical that hit officers, who were then decontaminated.
“This is no longer a peaceful protest,” St Louis police said on Twitter earlier.
Protesters broke large flowerpots and threw chunks of the ceramic at storefront windows.
Sunday’s gathering was the largest of the three nights with more 1,000 protesters. Reuters