Michael Brown Shooting Protests: Tensions Between Police and Protesters Rise After Police Chief Releases Apology Video
Tension peaked between police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri Thursday night when Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson directly addressed the crowd in wake of the killing of Michael Brown.
On Aug. 9, Brown, 18, was fatally shot by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb. The police department maintains that Brown reached for Officer Darren Wilson's weapon before he was shot, however several witnesses insist that the unarmed teen was shot execution style while he was trying to surrender. Since then, Brown's death has sparked national outrage and a string of protests.
Chief Jackson appeared outside the police department in civilian clothes late Thursday to assure protesters that there would be changes in the wake of Brown's killing, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
"All those things that are causing mistrust are being evaluated and we are going to be making changes," he said.
However, some angry protesters responded with hostility.
"If you are not resigning tonight, go home," said one man on a bullhorn, according to CNN.
However, shortly after the police chief began marching with protesters around 11 p.m., a scuffle broke out about 20 feet away from him and one protester was arrested. At least three other protesters were also arrested in another confrontation.
Earlier on Thursday, Jackson released a video apologizing to Brown's family and the community for his department's actions after Brown's shooting. In the video, he acknowledged that Brown's body should have not remained in the street for over four hours while police collected evidence.
"It was just too long and I'm truly sorry for that," Jackson said, reports the Associated Press. "Please know that the investigating officers meant no disrespect to the Brown family, to the African-American community or the people of Canfield (Drive). They were simply trying to do their jobs."
He also told the Brown family that he is "truly sorry for the loss of your son."
"It is clear that we have much work to do," Jackson added.