A police officer who was part of
the effort to keep peace during protests in Ferguson has been suspended
for pointing a semi-automatic assault rifle at demonstrators, then
cursing and threatening to kill one of them, police said Wednesday.
A
protester captured the exchange on video that has been posted to
YouTube and several websites. It happened Tuesday night during the
latest of several protests that have followed the Aug. 9 shooting death
of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer.
On
the video, a man is heard saying, "Oh my God! Gun raised!" as the
officer approaches. The identity of the man who shot the video is not
known.
"My hands are up, bro! My hands are up!" the man said.
The officer walks near the man with his gun pointed and appears to say, "I will (expletive) kill you."
St.
Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman said the officer is with
the police department in St. Ann, another St. Louis County town near
Ferguson. His name hasn't been released. Messages seeking comment from
St. Ann's police chief were not returned.
Schellman
said a county police sergeant took immediate action, telling the
officer to lower the weapon and escorting him from the area. The officer
was suspended indefinitely.
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