After a day of relative peace, things turned ugly again in Ferguson when shortly after midnight crowds again resorted to looting and vandalism in multiple businesses along West Florissant Ave with the focal point being the QuikTrip convenience store which Mike Brown allegedly robbed. The incidents seemed to gather steam after 12:00am.
According to KTVI [6], at least 200 St. Louis County Police officers were on scene and helping handle the situation. They confirm the Domino’s Pizza on West Florissant was set fire and burned. They also confirm multiple businesses vandalized and looted. But the shocker happened when county Police told Fox 2 News that its officers were at the Ferguson Market earlier when looters showed up, but were ordered to “Stand down” by Missouri State Highway Patrol incident commanders at the scene and basically withdrew and allowed the looters to have their way with the store.
St. Louis County Police say they were told to stand down by the Missouri State Highway Patrol #Ferguson [7]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [8]
So @stlcountypd [9] says it pulled its officers from Ferguson Market and allowed looters to have their way. PD told by commanders to not engage
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [10]
The Missouri Highway Patrol says they will have updates on why the police presence in #Ferguson [7] is so light. Press conference later Sat.
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [11]
So if the cops won't protect, then vigilante justice is inevitable:
Store owners guard Ferguson businesses with their own guns http://t.co/VqM92Xt9Hl [12]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [13]
In other words, first appeasement in the international arena, and now, domestically. Is it surprising then that increasingly the death of Mike Brown appears to merely be a pretext for even more looting? One does wonder just where and why the order to replace the local police with a highway patrol presence came in the first place.
As KFTI further, reports, the Missouri Highway Patrol continues to have incident command at the scene. A spokesman said they are gathering information and plan a news conference later this morning. They did not have any solid information about damage, arrests, or injuries.
As of this morning the looting activity seems to have quieted, but local media outlets report live pictures of cars racing down West Florissant and driving erratic. Furthermore, after being told to stand aside, a strong police presence appears to be returning and moving down West Florissant and standing off with some protestors.
And just in case Ukraine wants some pointers on what "evidence" means, here is photographic and video proof of the overnight events.
West Florissant in Ferguson seems like everyone waiting for more to happen. @FOX2now [14] pic.twitter.com/yVQlPw5LOO [15]
— George Sells (@GeorgeSells) August 16, 2014 [16]
Inside of the partially looted market. It is still standing and largely unthreatened. pic.twitter.com/Cgkyv725xs [17]
— Byron Tau (@ByronTau) August 16, 2014 [18]
Tempers high..so far 1 person shot 5 to 6 stores looted on W. Florissant a Domino's was on fire..Hwy patrol news... http://t.co/j0T02uOvsd [19]
— Shawndrea Thomas (@ShawndreaThomas) August 16, 2014 [20]
Inside the Ferguson Market on West Florissant. Looters have been inside tonight. pic.twitter.com/hSowuReii8 [21]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [22]
Continuing coverage of Ferguson overnight violence on @FOX2now [14]. Our crews reporting this may be calming slightly. pic.twitter.com/jmUJ4gCknl [23]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [24]
That looked like a looter carrying a cash register out of Ferguson Market. pic.twitter.com/PG2Jl3jctQ [25]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [26]
More loot being removed from Ferguson Market. pic.twitter.com/zvrOfAeCcw [27]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [28]
Brazen looter in #Ferguson [7] . Walking through our live shot pic.twitter.com/CbI4SBrMlE [29]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [30]
Our crews with @FOX2now [14] say the man in the white fedora has single handedly helped stop looters at Ferguson Market. pic.twitter.com/eVyfaTwIX4 [31]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [32]
Looters using shopping carts to move merchandise out of #Ferguson [7] stores pic.twitter.com/3KiXBozOjI [33]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [34]
Shattered calm: Riot police fire tear gas as looting breaks out again in #Ferguson [7] http://t.co/c0nkcyT6dM [35] pic.twitter.com/B8wc6Ik0iO [36]
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 16, 2014 [37]
Store owner standing in front of business in #Ferguson [7]. Dealing with looters. pic.twitter.com/eqX97hJzES [38]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [39]
Owners of SAMs Meat Market defending their store because they say police won't. @FOX2now [14] #ferguson [40] pic.twitter.com/TTG2eaCw5d [41]
— George Sells (@GeorgeSells) August 16, 2014 [42]
#breakingnews [43] looters destroy #Ferguson [7] Mkt; no police responding; MO St PD ordered STL Co: stand down @FOX2now [14] pic.twitter.com/8RnNWIsKT0 [44]
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) August 16, 2014 [45]
This is what a looted store looks like. @FOX2now [14] #ferguson [40] pic.twitter.com/4ZNGExzqLQ [46]
— George Sells (@GeorgeSells) August 16, 2014 [47]
Police now showing up in looted area. @FOX2now [14] #ferguson [40] pic.twitter.com/lgel7MyNTw [48]
— George Sells (@GeorgeSells) August 16, 2014 [49]
State PD document looting/damage at #Ferguson [7] store 5hrs after breakin; this is 1st response. pic.twitter.com/NnBfNz9aKg [50] - via @andybankertv [51]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [52]
Damage-looting at #Ferguson [7] beauty supp and Ferg Mkt & liq. State PD drove by without stopping @FOX2now [14] owners livid pic.twitter.com/e42pv7azM4 [53]
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) August 16, 2014 [54]
Meanwhile, the entire world is watching:
The eyes of the world are focused on #STL [55]. News crews from about every major network are in #Ferguson [7]. pic.twitter.com/KCyD05VtIg [56]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [57]
People who live in #Ferguson [7] are cleaning up after the looting in the rain near the burned out QuikTrip pic.twitter.com/kIvCiw5LhX [58]
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 16, 2014 [59]
So to summarize: the revolution may not be televised, but the looting will sure be tweeted.
