After apologizing to the family of slain teenager Michael Brown, Ferguson, Mo. police Chief Thomas Jackson attempted to make amends Thursday night with the protesters who gathered outside police headquarters to call for his resignation.
It didn’t go over well. Instead of easing tensions, Jackson’s gesture sparked a scuffle that resulted in the arrests of several demonstrators.
The chief appeared outside the Ferguson Police Department in his street clothes and promised demonstrators that the force would be making changes to address the mistrust between law enforcement and the community, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Here’s what happened next, as reported by St. Louis Public Radio:
His words seemed to do nothing to placate the crowd that called for his resignation.
Jackson asked what they would have him do. Some responded with a request for him to alongside them. So Jackson told his fellow officers to hang back, and he marched.
They only made it about 10 yards.
Then a few Ferguson officers attempted to shove their way to their chief, and that upset many protestors. After a scuffle between the two sides, police arrested several protestors.
The Post-Dispatch counted at least four arrested demonstrators.
“@kodacohen: #Ferguson Chief Tom Jackson briefly marches with protesters before arrests. pic.twitter.com/WH6HwneB4X”
Then all hell broke loose.
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) September 26, 2014
