Local Congressman Says County Police Will Be Removed From Ferguson

A man watches as police walk through a cloud of smoke during a clash with protesters Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Protests in the St. Louis suburb rocked by racial unrest since a white police officer sh... A man watches as police walk through a cloud of smoke during a clash with protesters Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Protests in the St. Louis suburb rocked by racial unrest since a white police officer shot an unarmed black teenager to death turned violent Wednesday night, with people lobbing Molotov cocktails at police who responded with smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse the crowd. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) MORE LESS
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St. Louis County law enforcement will be removed from duty in Ferguson, Mo. after heated protests over a police officer’s slaying of an unarmed teenager, Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) told Bloomberg on Thursday.

“The governor just called me, and he’s on his way to St. Louis now to announce he’s taking away St. Louis County police out of the situation,” the congressman told the news outlet.

A spokesman for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) declined to confirm or deny the report but said the governor will hold a media availability at 2:30 p.m. local time. (Update: the availability has been moved to 3 p.m.)

The situation has made national news as heavily armed police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. They arrested two reporters on Wednesday night.

A Clay spokesman didn’t return requests for comment.

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