Police prepare for possible Ferguson unrest in Seattle
Nov 14, 2014, 1:29 PM | Updated: 3:13 pm
The Seattle Police Department says it is prepared to handle protesters should unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer spread across the country. Two anti-police brutality marches have already taken place in Seattle in solidarity with those in Ferguson. (AP file photo)
(AP file photo)
The Seattle Police Department says it is prepared to handle protesters should unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer spread across the country.
A grand jury is expected to decide at any time whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who he shot and killed on the streets of Ferguson in August.
Anti-police brutality protests in Ferguson over the August 9 shooting have prompted solidarity marches elsewhere, including two relatively peaceful demonstrations in Seattle last month.
Captain Chris Fowler, head of the Seattle Police Department’s West Precinct, said he will serve as incident commander should demonstrations take place here once a decision is made by the grand jury.
“There is nothing specific that we know of, but I think it’s safe to say that there will be some protests, demonstrations, solidarity marches,” said Capt. Fowler, who has led the department’s response to May Day riots for the past two years.
“Operationally speak, we certainly are taking a stance much like May Day,” he said. “We’re here to facilitate demonstrations and constitutionally protected free speech.”
Captain Fowler said officers will make arrests if individuals are disrupting peaceful protests by breaking the law.
