St. Louis Protests: After 100 Arrests, Another Rally Planned

ST. LOUIS , MO — About 150 protesters in St. Louis on Monday dispersed following three straight days and nights of sometimes combative demonstrations, and another rally is planned for Monday evening in nearby University City.

The protesters temporarily stopped marching Monday through downtown St. Louis to protest Jason Stockley's acquittal in the 2011 shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. A racially mixed crowd of demonstrators marched silently to city hall. Once there, they loudly chanted: "I know that we will win." The peaceful crowd then marched four blocks to a city court building and chanted again. Police blocked traffic to ensure the protesters could march safely.

Thousands have gathered every day since Friday to decry a judge's ruling and to call for racial equality. Protests have mostly been peaceful during the last three days, but all three nights ended with confrontations between demonstrators and police. About 100 people have been arrested since then, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Mike Faulk. (For more information on these protests and other St. Louis stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Watch: In St. Louis, Officer Acquittal Follows A Familiar Pattern

Faulk was among 80 people arrested late Sunday and early Monday, the newspaper reported on its website. He was covering the protest and its aftermath when he was taken into custody. Police were clearing a street. The report didn't say whether Faulk was charged or released, though police said they would issue a statement at some point.

Stockley shot Smith following a high-speed chase. Police tried to arrest Smith and his partner in a suspected drug deal. Stockley, 36, said he felt he was in danger. He testified that he saw Smith holding a revolver when Smith backed his car toward the officers and sped off.

Prosecutors said Stockley planted a gun in Smith's car after the shooting. Stockley's DNA was on the gun, but Smith's was not. Dashcam video recorded Stockley saying he was "going to kill this (expletive)." He shot Smith five times less than a minute later.

Stockley's lawyer explained the comment as "human emotions" during a dangerous pursuit. St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson said prosecutors didn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Stockley murdered Smith and said the statement could be ambiguous.

Stockley left the police department and moved to Houston three years ago.

While demonstrations the past few days have been nonviolent during the day, some small groups who remain at night have broken windows and thrown rocks and other objects at police. Protest organizers said those people aren't associated with their peaceful efforts.

Mayor Lyda Krewson told reporters early Monday that "the days have been calm and the nights have been destructive" for three straight days. Krewson says that is "unacceptable" and that "destruction cannot be tolerated."

During the protests Sunday night, several windows were broken at a Marriott hotel and at other nearby businesses. Concrete planters were knocked over and trash cans tossed into the street.

Photo credit: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

A man is treated after being pepper sprayed as police tried to clear a violent crowd Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in University City, Missouri. Earlier, protesters marched peacefully in response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley.