Subscribe
The Daily Grind Video
CLOSE

Police in St. Louis have to come to the realization that the arrests of some protestors in Ferguson were by accident.

Really?

According to the Huffington Post, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar admitted a lack of communication was to blame for some of the arrests that occurred during the height of protests following the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown.

Belmar testified in federal court about the so-called five-second rule that police in Ferguson allowed protestors before enforcing Missouri’s law against refusing to disperse. Though the statute only applies to individuals who refuse a police order to leave an “unlawful assembly, or at the scene of a riot,” police in Ferguson repeatedly demanded crowds disperse during protests last month of a police officer’s fatal shooting of Michael Brown, 18, who was unarmed.

The “five-second rule” was enlisted for protestors, children, journalists, and many others. This meant that if someone was in one spot for more than five seconds, they would be placed under arrest. Under this rule, many protestors – including a 73-year-old woman – were arrested. Belmar added that the rule was meant to be just for evening protests, but issues in communication caused police to enforce it at all times.

Belmar said the “keep moving” instructions were applied by mistake by officers. He said there had been a breakdown in communication.

“I don’t think we were clear enough as commanders,” Belmar testified, according toThe St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Some instructions, he said, “confused” the officers. “We understand that now, but I didn’t understand it then,” he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union in Missouri is suing the city and St. Louis Highway Patrol for their actions in Ferguson. They also claim since the rule was enforced incorrectly, it should be proved unconstitutional in court.

In August, six to eight journalists were arrested along with St. Louis alderman Antonio French, a prominent figure in highlighting the protests in Ferguson online.

Eight protestors were arrested on Monday after a noisy but calm demonstration in front of the Ferguson Police Department.

SOURCE: Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty 

A Week Of Protest For Michael Brown: Ferguson, Missouri In Pictures (PHOTOS)
Global Grind "G" logo
0 photos