Police Says Ferguson Protests ‘Unlawful Assembly’, Pledges Arrests

St. Louis police threatens to arrest protesters unwilling to leave the area after they vandalized property last night.

MOSCOW, November 26 (Sputnik) - The ongoing protests in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri are now considered an "unlawful assembly" and those refusing to leave will be detained, St. Louis County Police Department said early Wednesday.

"This is now considered an unlawful assembly. Those refusing to leave the area will be subject to arrest," the police department said on Twitter.

This is now considered an unlawful assembly. Those refusing to leave the area will be subject to arrest. #Ferguson

— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) 26 ноября 2014

According to the police, a crowd of people turned violent and started vandalizing property after hours of peaceful protests, Tuesday night.

A police car was set on fire in front of Ferguson City Hall, police said, and protesters reportedly threw bottles and fireworks at law enforcement. Police acknowledge their use of tear gas again to disperse crowds.

The police car set on fire was in front of the #Ferguson City Hall. It was destroyed.

— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) 26 ноября 2014

Protests erupted in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson on Monday after a grand jury chose not to press charges against white police officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown in August.