Missouri Governor Warns Ferguson: No Riots

State, city prepare ahead of grand jury decision
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 11, 2014 4:14 PM CST
Missouri Governor Warns Ferguson: No Riots
A police officer tries to keep protesters from advancing farther into the parking lot at the Ferguson, Mo., police station on Oct. 13, 2014.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said today that law enforcement officials have been working around the clock to make sure residents and businesses are kept safe once prosecutors announce whether a Ferguson police officer will face charges for fatally shooting 18-year-old Michael Brown. A grand jury is expected to decide later this month whether to indict Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 death of Brown. "Violence will not be tolerated," said Nixon.

Weeks of protests followed the shooting, and officials are trying to make sure things remain calm once the grand jury decision is announced. Nixon said looting and violence that marred mostly peaceful protests cannot take place again. "That ugliness was not representative of Missouri," he said. Once the decision is announced, the state highway patrol will work with St. Louis County and city police as one unified command. The National Guard will be available if needed. Wilson also faces possible civil rights charges, though that's looking more and more unlikely. (More Missouri stories.)

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