FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger has issued a state of emergency, a move that authorizes county Police Chief Jon Belmar to take control of police emergency management in and around Ferguson.
Belmar has not said what steps he will take to preserve order, a day after violence broke out during protests on the anniversary of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.
Several shots rang out late Sunday night on West Florissant Avenue. Police shot and critically wounded one suspect, 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Jr., after he allegedly shot through the windshield of an unmarked police van with four plainclothes officers inside.
The officers were not injured. Harris’ father says he believes that his son was unarmed, and he called the police version “a bunch of lies.”
Prosecutors have filed 10 counts against Harris. He remains hospitalized following surgery.
