Capt Johnson Briefing 1:15 am Monday
Good morning I want to tank all law enforcement agencies for their support and fine work tonight protecting the citizens of Ferguson.
A Sunday that started with prayer, me messages of unity and peace and justice took a very different turn after dark. Molotov cocktails were thrown, there were shootings, looting, vandalism and other acts of violence that clearly appear not to have been spontaneous but premeditated criminal acts designed to damage property, hurt people, and to provoke a response. The catalyst was not civil disobedience but preplanned agitation and aggression, coordinated in many cases.
When Gov Nixon and Carla (sp?) Fogel first assigned me the task to help restore order to Ferguson the basic principles were to protect people's ability to make their voices heard. While keeping this community safe we needed to protect the good people of Ferguson, their businesses, and their property. That's why earlier tonight we were walking with and listening to the peaceful protestors voicing their frustration in a way that doesn't put others in personal danger. That's also why when we saw violent acts including shootings and the throwing of Molotov Cocktails and the destruction of businesses we had to act to protect lives and property. The first started to deteriorate with the shooting of a civilian on W. Florisant and Ferguson Avenue at approx 8:25 pm. We quickly responded with additional officers to reach the victim and got them to a safe position.
That was followed by shots being fired on officers, a number of Molotov Cocktails being hurled, a looting and vandalism of a numof businesses including Domino's Piazza, a Rally's auto parts store, Dollar store, and a self storage business. All were on W. Florissant.
N.B. I (BGIF) had this on DVR but my repeated stopping and backing up reset the DVR erasing the quotes. Sorry.
Timeline:
Citizen shot at 8:20 pm
Gunshots and Molotov cocktails thrown
8:28 report of 8 people wth guns. Tactical police were sent in response
I asked for ...
9:15 large crowd gathering
9:20 report McDonald's overrun
I had to increase response to act to protect lives and property.
For that that say the curfew cause this note that the shooting and Molotov Coctails started three and a half hours before the curfew went into effect.
Tonight by teleconference call between myself, the Chief of Police St Louis Co, Chief of Police St Louis City, and the Governor, we are planning additional steps to halt the violence.
Press Q&A
Two or three people injured.
National Guard? No not at this time.
Seven or eight arrests for failure to disperse.
End.
