Police say 17 people were arrested during a protest outside the Florissant Police Department, but police and protesters disagree over the actions that led to the arrests.
Police say the arrests came Sunday night after protesters blocked a street, damaged property, threw objects at officers and refused orders to disperse. But some protesters say police pepper sprayed and beat peaceful protesters without provocation. The Rev. Darryl Gray, who helped organize the protest, says police rushed nonviolent protesters and shot tear gas at medics trying to help injured protesters.
He says “at no time were police threatened nor did they come under attack in any way.”