Top Cop's Charm Offensive Backfires

Protests flared up again overnight in Ferguson, Missouri, as the much-criticised police chief marched alongside demonstrators in a goodwill gesture that flopped.

Tom Jackson appeared outside the St Louis suburb's police department in civilian clothes late on Thursday to pledge reforms in the wake of Michael Brown's death.

"All those things that are causing mistrust are being evaluated and we are going to be making changes," he said.

The police chief began marching at around 11pm with demonstrators, who want the white police officer under investigation for shooting the unarmed black 18-year-old last month to be charged.

The teen's parents have again cast doubt on local officials' investigation

But tensions rose again and scuffles broke out with several people arrested, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch.

Police then declared the protests an "unlawful assembly" and ordered the crowd to disperse.

The crowd chanted to a line of police officers: "This is what democracy looks like."

St Louis elected official Antonio French, one of the police chief's most vocal critics, told NBC News: "His very presence agitated the crowd."

Source:

By Sky News US Team

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