The Missouri National Guard hit the ground in the besieged St. Louis suburb of Ferguson on Monday to try to rein in Molotov cocktail-tossing rioters who have been looting stores and menacing cops.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the guardsmen to protect the State Highway Patrol’s command center, which was nearly overrun Sunday by mobs protesting the fatal Aug. 9 shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by a white cop.
“I join the people of Ferguson, and all Missourians, in strongly condemning the violent acts we saw [Sunday] night, including the firing upon law-enforcement officers, the shooting of a civilian, the throwing of Molotov cocktails, looting and a coordinated attempt to overrun the unified command center,” the Democratic governor said.
“We are all frustrated and looking for justice to be achieved regarding the shooting death of Michael Brown. As the dual investigations continue into what happened nine days ago, we must defend Ferguson from these violent interlopers.”
In other developments Monday:
- President Obama dispatched US Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson to calm tensions. Holder was expected to arrive Wednesday as part of an unusually swift and large federal response that included 40 FBI agents canvassing for witnesses.
- Former New York City Medical Examiner Michael Baden, who conducted an autopsy for Brown’s family, said that he found no signs of struggle by the teen and that the teen may have been shot at least once from behind.
- Another autopsy performed by the St. Louis County medical examiner showed Brown had marijuana in his system when he was shot, The Washington Post reported, citing a source close to the investigation.
- New video from a woman who lives near the scene and obtained by CNN showed Ferguson cop Darren Wilson nervously pacing and speaking to another officer minutes after shooting Brown, whose body lay uncovered and bleeding just feet away.
- A Missouri grand jury was expected to begin hearing evidence Wednesday to decide whether Wilson should be criminally charged. But the case prosecutor, Bob McCulloch, was already taking heat over whether he could remain impartial: His father, mother, brother, uncle and cousin all worked for St. Louis’ police department, with his dad killed while responding to a call involving a black suspect.
Missouri National Guard Brig. Gen. Gregory Mason said his “well-trained and well-seasoned soldiers assigned to the command post’’ were “well-equipped’’ to handle their mission of protecting the site.
The state Highway Patrol continued to patrol the surrounding streets to try to maintain order.
They were given the job last week after St. Louis County cops and SWAT teams were accused of employing heavy-handed, military-style tactics while confronting protesters.
Highway Patrol Capt. Ronald S. Johnson — who, like Nixon, blamed the rioting on outside agitators — vowed to maintain order.
“We will not allow vandals, criminal elements to impact the safety and security of this community,” Johnson said.
“We will not allow those elements disrupt, impact the soul of this community.”
Nixon on Monday suspended the midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew imposed Saturday, but cops were still telling protesters to move along and not gather in one place
Authorities said three people had been injured in shootings during the night but that none of the shootings involved police officers. Police said seven or eight people were arrested on charges of failing to disperse.At one point, a McDonald’s was overrun by protesters and the workers inside had to take shelter.
A Twitter post said a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, Hedy Epstein, was among those busted for blocking Nixon’s administration building. An accompanying photo showed her being led off with her arms behind her back.
With Post wire services
