FERGUSON, Mo. — A police officer was seriously injured and several demonstrators were arrested near the Ferguson police station Friday night. Friday night marked 10 years since Michael Brown was killed by a Ferguson police officer.
The Ferguson police department said protesters were assembled Friday night across the street from the police station Friday night. Chief Troy Doyle said in a news conference Saturday afternoon that the protest was largely peaceful through most of the night. Doyle said some protesters started shaking a fence at the police station. He said the fence was broken and stolen, and that's when he authorized arrests for destruction of property.
Doyle said Officer Travis Brown was "assaulted" when he was charged by a man and fell and hit his head, causing severe brain injury. He said Travis Brown was fighting for his life.
The probable cause statement identified the man who assaulted the officer as Elijah Gantt, of East St. Louis. The document said Gantt was running from police to avoid arrest when Officer Travis Brown stood in his path. Gantt, 28, was being held on $500,000 bond.
"What are we protesting?" Doyle asked passionately. "What are we doing here?"
St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said Gantt was facing assault charges, among a list of other charges. Another person was facing assault and resisting/interfering with arrest charges, and three others with property damage charges.
"We believe people have a right to protest," Bell said, but people would be held accountable for violence and property damage.
Officer Travis Brown was a former officer with the St. Louis County Police Department. He joined the Ferguson police department in January.
Bell asked people to "bring the temperature down." Doyle pointed out changes to the Ferguson police department since 2014, including changing the uniforms, hiring more officers of color and women, and policy changes.
Doyle said that police were trying to work with protesters that evening and had shut down Florissant Road. Doyle passionately defended his department and said that it had been a "punching bag" for the community since 2014.
"I had to look his mother in the eye and tell her what happened to her son," Doyle said.
Doyle said people could peacefully demonstrate on Saturday, but destruction would not be tolerated.
A spokesperson with the Ferguson Police Department said the choices of a few people caused the evening of peaceful protest to turn Friday night.
Angelique Kidd of Ferguson said police never declared an "unlawful assembly" before making arrests. She asserted that the police action caused chaos and caused the injuries.
Maurice King III owns Hive Cafe across the street. The cafe was hosting a watch party for the documentary, "13 Days in Ferguson" Friday night. He said the protest was peaceful until a short disturbance, but the protest was allowed to continue after the commotion.
"I think it was an isolated group of individuals that was apprehended," King said Saturday. "The protesters that came that supported the premiere were pretty good. Community activists and nothing more."
King saw two or three people who were arrested.
Footage on a Facebook livestream from St. Louis area radio personality and reporter Derk Brown, shows a large police response. Officers with the Ferguson Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department can be seen in the video.
Derk Brown can be heard saying there was an officer-in-need-of-aid call.
Footage shows officers detaining multiple people and separating them from the crowds.
Doyle was appointed chief of the Ferguson Police Department in April 2023.
Bell is running for election in Missouri's 1st Congressional District.