A suburban St. Louis police officer was suspended indefinitely for pointing his rifle at a demonstrator in Ferguson, Missouri, and threatening to kill him during protests over the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, police said Wednesday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday and was captured on video by protesters. Brian Schellman, a spokesman for the St. Louis County police, confirmed that the officer, who wasn't identified but is with the St. Ann Police Department, pointed a semi-automatic assault rifle at a peaceful protester "after a verbal exchange." A county police sergeant intervened and forced the officer to lower his weapon, Schellman said.
Video of the incident shows the officer threatening, "I will f---ing kill you." Schellman had no comment on the video but said commanders "strongly feel these actions are inappropriate" and further information was pending an investigation by St. Ann police, one of numerous agencies that have sent officers to help with crowd control during nightly protests in Ferguson. St. Ann police didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
IN-DEPTH
SOCIAL
— M. Alex Johnson
