WSJs Lee Hawkins discusses the video apology issued by Tom Jackson, police chief of Ferguson, Mo. in regard to controversy surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown. Photo:
PROTESTERS have been arrested as they marched on the Ferguson police station and demanded the police chief resign.
Several people were taken into custody after a scuffle broke out near where the embattled police chief Thomas Jackson was speaking with protesters.
The unrest has sparked concern that Ferguson, the St Louis suburb plagued by violence and protest since the shooting of an unarmed teen, could be headed for further conflict.
Michael Brown was shot dead in Ferguson on August 9 by a white police officer, sparking nightly protests in the small town and igniting a national debate about race relations.
Mr Jackson met with protesters and briefly marched with them, but was quickly escorted away when the fighting began.
At one stage protesters — who were calling for him to resign — linked arms and refused to move outside the police station. Others stood protectively around as individuals were spoken to by police.
Michael Brown's August 9 shooting sparked massive protests. Source: Supplied
The uneasy standoff continued for several hours with armed police at one point standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the police department with the chanting protesters only metres away.
Earlier, Mr Jackson released a video where he apologised for the August 9 shooting of Mr Brown.
"For any mistakes I have made, I take full responsibility," Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said in the online video.
"I am truly sorry for the loss of your son," he added, addressing Brown's parents.
The college-bound teen was shot at least six times by police officer Darren Wilson and his body was left in the street for several hours before it was removed.
"I'm also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street," Mr Thomas added.
"Please know that the investigating officers meant no disrespect," he said, adding "they were simply trying to do their jobs".
Protesters in Ferguson during on of the August clashes with authorities. Source: AFP
Protesters bang on a police car the day after Michael Brown was shot dead. Source: Supplied
The Ferguson protests got so bad the state government was forced to call in the National Guard to help bring the situation under control Source: Supplied
Violence rocked Ferguson — a St Louis suburb of 21,000 with an African-American majority and an overwhelmingly white police department and town council — prompting Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to briefly call in the National Guard to quell protests.
Some demonstrators complained that police used undue force against peaceful protests, which Mr Thomas also apologised for.
"I'm also aware of the pain and the feeling of mistrust felt in some of the African American community towards the police department," he added. "It is clear we have much work to do."
Circumstances of Brown's death are contested, with police claiming that Brown, accused of stealing a box of cigars, was shot after a struggle with Mr Wilson.
But other witnesses say the teenager put his hands up to surrender before Mr Wilson opened fire.
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