Police enforce state-imposed curfew in Ferguson, use tear gas to disperse defiant protesters

A law enforcement officer watches Sunday as tear gas is fired to disperse a crowd protesting the shooting of teenager Michael Brown.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A law enforcement officer watches Sunday as tear gas is fired to disperse a crowd protesting the shooting of teenager Michael Brown.

FERGUSON, Mo. — The first night of a state-imposed curfew in Ferguson, Mo., ended with tear gas and arrests of some protesters, but it wasn’t the curfew violation that precipitated the confrontation.

A team of officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis city and county police moved armored vehicles down the street of the St. Louis suburb just after the midnight curfew Sunday.

Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson says police responded in force because some protesters positioned themselves on a restaurant roof and created a safety risk for approaching officers. A man with a handgun also created a concern.

A man was shot and critically wounded and police are seeking the shooter.

Saturday marked a week since a white Ferguson officer, Darren Wilson, shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9.