The grand jury hearing evidence about Officer Darren Wilson is poised to meet for what many believe is its final session — as tension and worry build that the decision will generate violence in and around the Ferguson community.
The decision on whether or not to charge Officer Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, could come Friday, when the grand jury gathers once again. But prosecutors have said they are going to give law enforcement agents a 48-hour, heads-up on the decision, CNN reported. The public announcement, then, could come as early as Sunday.
And case watchers around the nation are predicting protests that could very well turn violent. The FBI has warned law enforcement to be ready, Missouri’s Gov. Jay Nixon has activated the National Guard, and shopkeepers who sell firearms report their supplies are flying off the shelves.
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said his outfit is ready.
“We’ve had three months to prepare,” he said, CNN reported. “Acts of violence will not be tolerated. Our intelligence is good. Our tactics are good. We can protect lawsuit people and at the same time arrest criminals.”
And St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said in a letter to the city’s aldermen that police will wear normal uniforms — not SWAT-type gear — “as we do not want to appear to militarize our response to the demonstrations,” he said, CNN reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.