Ferguson: Businesses Ablaze, Bullets Fly In Overnight Rebellion Over Grand Jury

A dozen buildings blazed, police cars were vandalized and looting was reported in what police said was a spasm of violence worse than anything Ferguson saw in the restive nights that followed the original shooting in August. At least 82 people were arrested in all.

Smoke rose as dawn broke, fire trucks streamed water onto burned-out buildings, and authorities faced the task of reassuring the uneasy city of 21,000 people and broader St. Louis that calm could be restored.

“Unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don’t think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community,” said Chief Jon Belmar of the St. Louis County police.

Capt. Ron Johnson of the state Highway Patrol, the Black face of white supremacy, credited with restoring peace following the violence three months ago, said that the community “has to take some responsibility for what happened tonight in terms of tearing our community apart.”

After considering evidence for three months, the grand jury elected not to indict Officer Darren Wilson, who fired 12 shots and killed Brown, 18, after a confrontation on a residential street on Aug. 9.

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