Reports: Ferguson grand jury has made decision

USA Today

A St. Louis County grand jury ended deliberations Monday in the case of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen in August touched off weeks of sometimes violent protests, an attorney for the teen’s family told USA TODAY.

Attorney Anthony Gray said the prosecutor’s office called the family Monday afternoon to tell them that the grand jury had reached a decision. County officials will hold a press conference after 6 p.m. ET today.  

Prosecutor Robert McCulloch expected to announce later Monday whether Wilson, 28, will face charges in the death of Michael Brown, 18, on a Ferguson street Aug. 9.

Police have said Brown struggled with Wilson inside his police car, then reached for Wilson’s weapon. Brown’s family and some witnesses say Wilson killed Brown as he raised his hands in surrender.

Some Ferguson, Mo., schools were closed, a police command center was in place and barriers had been set up to help control protests in downtown Ferguson, a predominantly black suburb, and near the courthouse in St. Louis. McCulloch met with St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar on Monday afternoon.

Police officials and protest organizers have collaborated on rules of engagement. Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and activated the state’s National Guard.

The evidence brought before the grand jury of seven men and five women — three African American and nine white — may not be disclosed to the public for some time, if at all. If Wilson is indicted, evidence presented to the grand jury would not be released because it would be used during the trial. And St. Louis County Director of Judicial Administration Paul Fox released a statement Sunday denying that Judge Carolyn Whittington had agreed to release the information if Wilson is not indicted.

Whatever the grand jury decision, authorities say they want to avoid the same chaos that followed the shooting, when some protests turned into violent, ugly clashes with police.

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III has said the city was making plans for the announcement for months. “Either way, somebody is going to be upset — one side or another,” he said. “We are obviously preparing for all worst-case scenarios.”

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said neither the president nor anyone at the White House had any “special insight” into prosecutor’s announcement. He said no decision had been made about whether the president would address the grand jury’s decision once it’s announced.

Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have called for people to temper their reactions — and for police to exercise restraint.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has said law enforcement has agreed to 11 of 19 rules of engagement submitted by protest leaders, including avoiding the use of excessive force and communicating with protest organizers to de-escalate tense situations. The remainder, he said would interfere with police duties.

Police rejected requests from the Don’t Shoot Coalition, a group of about 50 local organizations formed after Brown’s death, that policeavoid using armored vehicles, tear gas, rifles, rubber bullets and to don riot gear only as a last resort.

“We did not agree to some of the proposed rules because those rules would have limited officers’ ability to keep people and property safe,” Slay said.

No matter what the grand jury decides, Wilson could face civil rights charges brought by the Justice Department or a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Brown’s parents. If indicted, Wilson will be arrested and his case would move through the court system.

Contributing: Gregory Korte, USA TODAY; KSDK-TV, St. Louis

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/24/ferguson-grand-jury-deliberations/19474907/