Rioters Go Crazy In Ferguson Yet Again

You can’t blame this on the police being too aggressive during “peaceful” protests

(WRAL) Anger spurred by the death of a black teenager at the hands of a white police officer boiled over again when protesters stormed into a Missouri convenience store – the same store that Michael Brown was accused of robbing.

But, I guess the media (it’s an AP article) can excuse looting and lawlessness on Something Else.

Police and about 200 protesters clashed in Ferguson, Missouri, late Friday after another tense day in the St. Louis suburb, a day that included authorities identifying the officer who fatally shot Brown on Aug. 9. At the same news conference in which officer Darren Wilson was named, Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson released documents alleging that Brown stole a $48.99 box of cigars from the convenience store, then strong-armed a man on his way out.

Just before midnight, some in what had been a large and rowdy but mostly well-behaved crowd broke into that same small store and began looting it, said Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson.

Some in the crowd began throwing rocks and other objects at police, Johnson said. One officer was hurt but details on the injury were not immediately available.

Johnson said police backed off to try and ease the tension. He believes looting may have spread to a couple of nearby stores. No arrests were made.

So, police stood by as these people broke into stores and threw rocks? First off, the store owners should be thrilled that the police will protect their property /sarc. Second, perhaps the notion that, at least in this case, police being too aggressive with their military style toys as being the cause of previous nights of rage might be a load of mule fritters. At least a small pile.

“We had to evaluate the security of the officers there and also the rioters,” Johnson said. “We just felt it was better to move back.”

I certainly hope the police were filming the faces of the rioters for later arrest. Which, of course, would probably incite more riots.

Meanwhile, peaceful protesters yelled at the aggressors to stop what they were doing. About a dozen people eventually blocked off the front of the convenience store to help protect it.

There are plenty of pictures of people standing in front of the convenience store, supposedly stopping other looters from entering. The NY Times features one, and I just have to wonder who wears a bandana to a peaceful protest, and just happens to be at the looted store?

BTW, just in case you missed it, since so few news outlets are reporting this relevant information (via Hot Air)

(WDEF) The friend who was with Michael Brown when he was shot and killed by a police officer near St. Louis over the weekend is reportedly confirming that he and Brown had taken part in the theft of cigars from a convenience store that day.

That word comes from the attorney for Dorian Johnson, speaking to MSNBC. Police in Ferguson had earlier announced that Brown was suspected of taking cigars from the convenience store in what was described as a “strong-arm robbery.”

This doesn’t provide justification for the shooting, but it does provide context. Brown and Johnson were walking in the street. The officer stops and tells them to get out of the street. He then learns that the two are wanted in connection with the robbery. At that point, something happened. And now we have the same store being terrorized and robbed again. Why? What did the store do?

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.

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