3rd day of rallies against shooting

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis police made arrests Sunday night as protesters broke windows and damaged property during a third night of demonstrations over the acquittal of a white former police officer charged in the shooting death of a black man.

After organizers announced the demonstration had ended, a few dozen people continued to march downtown and some in the crowd started knocking over large potted plants and throwing objects through windows.

Buses carrying police in full riot gear and shields arrived near the downtown location where police said significant property damage was reported after an hourslong nonviolent protest Sunday afternoon. At least seven people were taken into custody.

Heading into a third night of protests, organizers said they were frustrated that a few people who have caused trouble at night could make it harder to spread their nonviolent message.

Sunday’s crowd began protesting silently in the late afternoon in front of the Police Department building, then chanted “stop killing us” as officers looked on from headquarters windows.

Protesters object to the not-guilty verdict issued Friday for Jason Stockley, who had been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011.

Authorities closed off several blocks around the police headquarters Sunday afternoon in anticipation of the demonstration, which followed two days of nonviolent marches that devolved after sunset when small groups turned violent on Friday and Saturday nights.

The protests evoke the angry and sometimes violent protests after the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.

Stockley shot Smith after Smith fled from Stockley and his partner in a high-speed chase as they tried to arrest him for a suspected drug deal.

Stockley, 36, testified that he felt he was in danger because he saw Smith holding a revolver. Prosecutors said Stockley planted a gun in Smith’s car after the shooting.