The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in Ferguson on Saturday, as the first photos emerged of the white police officer whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen sparked local rioting and a national debate.
The photo of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran, had been posted on his father’s Facebook page six months before the cop’s shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown during a curbside confrontation in the St. Louis suburb.
“Very proud of my son, Darren Wilson, on his receiving a commendation from his Police Department,” the cop’s father, John, had posted on Facebook, Yahoo News reported. Wilson had earned the unspecified commendation for what a Ferguson town Web site called “extraordinary effort in the line of duty.”
But by last week, pride had turned to worry. “Our family is in need for prayers to be sent up for a family member,” the father posted before the page was deactivated on Saturday. “Put a covering of protection over our family member please.”
The state of emergency and midnight to 5 a.m. curfew were announced by Gov. Jay Nixon at a contentious Saturday afternoon press conference that was interrupted by angry shouts from audience members.
“Why hasn’t Darren Wilson been indicted!” one shouted. “Charge him with murder!”
Others decried the continued use of tear gas by officers and asked whether the new curfew would be maintained without police violence.
“Last night we had several officers who were trapped in a parking lot,” explained Capt. Ron Johnson, who is leading the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s effort to maintain order.
“We sent in armored vehicles to get them out,” Johnson said, adding that one officer deployed a single can of tear gas and that he’d reminded his officers “that we do not use any force that is unnecessary.”
Early Saturday, some 200 protesters clashed with police near the site of Brown’s death at a liquor store where Ferguson’s police captain said Brown had committed a strong-arm robbery moments before his death.
The store and several others nearby were looted, and protesters hurled bottles. The crowd was mostly dispersed by 4 a.m.
Protesters’ anger had been stoked to a frenzy on Friday, when Ferguson police released not only Wilson’s name but also details of the unrelated robbery, including video showing a menacing Brown shoving his way past someone who tries to stop him from leaving the store — allegedly with a $50 box of cigars.
The feds warned Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson against accusing Brown of the robbery, CNN reported.
In New York, the Rev. Al Sharpton said he would march with Brown’s family in Ferguson on Sunday.
Additional reporting by Georgett Roberts.