The Latest on Ferguson: Police say nearly 2 dozen arrested during protest

Despite the arrests, there were no reports of injuries or violence. Stenger added that under the executive order, Chief Belmar will be in charge of police operations in Ferguson and the surrounding areas. His bond was set at $250,000.

However, the peaceful gathering was marred by gunfire and a police shooting later in the day, that left an 18-year-old suspect critically injured. One 18-year-old Ferguson protester named Tyrone Harris Jr. was shot and severely wounded by police after being accused of opening fire on a police van.

‘He was running for his… life because someone was shooting at him, ‘ Tyrone Harris, Sr. said in a telephone interview from his St. Louis-area home before the video was released.

County officials declared a state of emergency Monday afternoon, but stopped short of declaring a curfew.

The death of Brown and a grand jury’s decision to spare the officer, Darren Wilson, from criminal charges led to a wave of demonstrations that boiled over into rioting and arson at times and spawned sympathy rallies across the United States. Ferguson was a community on edge again Monday, a day after a protest marking the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death was punctua…

Approximately 600 people took to the street, beating on drums and shouting profanity at police officers during an extended standoff shortly after midnight.

Crowds chant in the street along West Florissant Avenue, Monday, August 10, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo.

During the protests, Xinhua reporters witnessed a woman scolding a man who had allegedly thrown a water bottle at police from the back of the group.

The five armed Oath Keepers, all of whom appeared to be white, interacted freely with police late Monday and early Tuesday but endured catcalls and jeers from demonstrators.

“I don’t condone violence, but I don’t condemn it either”.

Demonstrator Roberta Lynch, who held a cane as she ran from the shooting, told St. Louis Public Radio, “We need to stop, too much has been going on, too many people getting murdered already. Of wow, if anybody out here tried that they’d be met with a different greeting from police”. Last year, the group was told they were violating a city ordinance because they are not licensed guards.

At least one officer also squirted pepper spray into the crowd.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said Tuesday that the overnight presence of the Oath Keepers, wearing bulletproof vests and openly carrying rifles and pistols on West Florissant Avenue was “both unnecessary and inflammatory”.

The men identified themselves as part of a group called “Oath Keepers”, which describes itself as an association of current and former US soldiers and the police who aim to protect the US Constitution.

At one point, the group began marching aggressively toward police.