Photo by Steph Zimmerman
Police in riot gear line up across Waterman Blvd. shortly after Krewson's home was damaged Friday evening.
Protests following the not-guilty verdict of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley became tense Friday evening in the Central West End. Several properties, including St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's home, were damaged, and police deployed tear gas and pepper balls at demonstrators. According to police, nine officers and one Highway Patrol trooper were injured, and 32 demonstrators were arrested throughout the day.
Shortly after the verdict announcement Friday morning, protesters gathered downtown around the intersection of Tucker and Clark Avenue to voice their frustration and anger. While much of the protest went about peacefully, there were reports that mace was used; according to the Riverfront Times, a 28-year-old woman was maced after a group blocked a police bus at Tucker and Spruce.
See also: Jason Stockley found not guilty in death of Anthony Lamar Smith
The St. Louis police department later tweeted an image of rocks and bottles that had been thrown at officers on Friday.
Around 3:30 p.m., police ordered protesters to leave the area downtown. A tweet from the department wrote that the "protest is no longer considered peaceful."
Around 7 p.m., a group of protesters gathered at the intersection of Euclid and Maryland in the Central West End. Part of the group eventually broke off, marching south toward the Kinsghighway overpass that runs above Interstate 64. Some chanted, "If you kill our kids, you kill our economy." Traffic temporarily came to a standstill; police prevented any cars from moving between Lindell and the entrance to the freeway from Kingshighway. Vehicles going to Barnes-Jewish Hospital were given access, and protesters quickly moved out of the way for them.
Demonstrators then marched back toward Euclid, as diners eating outside at restaurants lining the street watched them pass by. Pi Pizzeria owner Chris Sommers offered demonstrators glasses of water.
Several protesters played drums, tambourines, and other instruments. At various points during the march, demonstrators would stop, clapping to the music, making the event sometimes feel more like a street party than a protest. Some children were seen walking alongside their parents in the crowd. Police cars were stationed at various points along Euclid, but largely did not impede the movement of demonstrators.
Watch SLM's live video of Friday night's demonstration:
One protester reportedly threw a rock at Left Bank Books around 9:20 p.m., though it did not break the glass. Several flags were burned during the march. At least one of these incidents led to an argument between protesters who supported the action and those who disapproved.
The demonstrators then moved west on Waterman, crossing Kingshighway into a residential neighborhood. At least several hundred people were in the group; some estimates put the number as high as 1,000.
The group stopped in front of what one protester correctly identified as Lyda Krewson's house. (The same protester later expressed doubt to the group that the home was Krewson's home, which drew laughter from the crowd.) Demonstrators walked onto the lawn, approaching the door. The interior lights were off, and there was no sign of any occupants. Rocks and red paint were thrown at the home's exterior, breaking at least two windows.
Afterward, police quickly moved onto the property, ordering protesters to move out of the area. According to the Riverfront Times, one demonstrator smashed the back window of a police car. SLM witnessed one arrest.
Several buses with police in full riot gear then moved into the area, marching down the residential streets; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch estimated that there were about 200 police officers. Police ordered demonstrators to disperse, citing unlawful assembly. KSDK captured one demonstrator throwing a brick at a police officer.
Police deployed tear gas at several points along Waterman, leaving some protesters with no way of getting out of the area without being gassed. Some hopped fences onto private property, looking for an exit. Police continued to push demonstrators out of the residential neighborhood, moving them back toward Euclid. Some demonstrators sought protection in the Central Reform Congregation synagogue at Kingshighway and Waterman.
Several Central West End businesses suffered damages. Windows were damaged at the St. Louis Public Library's Schlafly branch and at restaurants, including Culpepper's and Evangeline's. The contents of a dumpster were also set on fire, which the police later extinguished.
KSDK reported that tear gas was later deployed at the intersection of Euclid and Lindell. Pedestrians and demonstrators were restricted from entering the area.
In a live video published at 10:37 p.m., Acting Police Chief Lawrence O'Toole and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson provided updates about the day's demonstrations.
"The St. Louis police department continues to ensure that our citizens are able to exercise their constitutional rights peacefully," said O'Toole. "Our officers have been very tolerant and have used great restraint. However, we’ve had some incidents." He said that 23 arrests were made before 6 p.m., and nine officers and one Highway Patrol trooper sustained injuries, including a possible broken jaw and dislocated shoulder.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, police spokeswoman Schron Jackson reported early Saturday that 32 people had been arrested throughout the day.
O'Toole acknowledged that pepper pellets had been used Friday against demonstrators as "a less lethal option," he said, "after agitators continued to assault officers with objects and destroy property."
