Protests turn violent as night falls in St. Louis

Protests in St. Louis turned violent Friday night after remaining largely peaceful throughout the day.

Eleven officers were injured during violent protests throughout Friday. One officer was seriously injured when someone threw a brick at a police line. At least two other officers were hurt by chemicals.

A press release from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police sent at 1:30 a.m. Saturday said 32 people had been arrested.

Protests began downtown Friday morning after a judge's ruling came down acquitting former police officer Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of Anthony Lamar Smith. During daylight hours, the protests remained largely peaceful, but there were 13 arrests and four officers that suffered minor injuries. Interim Chief Lawrence O’Toole says the officers suffered minor injuries: one sustained a hand injury and was treated at the scene and release. The other three refused medical attention. One of those officers was struck in the head with a water bottle, one was knocked off their patrol bike, and another was pinned on the patrol bike.

In the later press release, the number of law enforcement officers injured was upped to 11, including one Missouri State Highway Patrol officer and one St. Louis County officer. At a press conference on Periscope, O'Toole said one of the city officers suffered a possible broken jaw and another had a dislocated shoulder.

O’Toole says the first person was arrested at 14^th Street and Washington Avenue around 11 a.m. for damaging a police car. That person was charged with destruction of property and failure to obey.

Agitators damaging a police car. Those causing destruction distract from the mission of peaceful protesters. #STLVerdict pic.twitter.com/Rbtpo1gAxc

— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 15, 2017

Rocks & water bottles have been thrown at our officers throughout the day. Officers used great restraint. #STLVerdict pic.twitter.com/LIl2OxKhcO

— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 15, 2017

Twelve more people were arrested at 315 S. Tucker Blvd. for offenses ranging from second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer to failure to disperse. O'Toole says officers deployed mace after an officer was hit with a water bottle, and they're wearing protective gear because they've been hit with objects.

Protesters marched to the on-ramp of I-64 at Clark Street, but officers on bicycles formed a human chain to prevent them from shutting down highway traffic. The protesters left that area without any physical confrontations.

Around 7 p.m., the crowd moved to the Central West End where numbers grew. They marched peacefully through the neighborhood, chanting and holding a sit-in. It wasn't until after dark that the protests turned violent.

After dark, the large group began to disperse, with many people heading home and others breaking into smaller groups. One of those groups headed to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's home and threw rocks at her windows.

Meanwhile, others threw a brick at a police line, seriously injuring an officer. That's when officers began to spray tear gas in attempts to break up the crowds.

PHOTOS | Protests in downtown St. Louis after Stockley decision