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St. Louis County Criticized for Belatedly Charging Ferguson Protesters

St. Louis Arch
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St. Louis County faces sharp criticism from several organizations over belatedly filing criminal cases against protesters arrested in Ferguson last year following the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that they said Tuesday that the action is a "blatant violation" of constitutional rights and an "appalling misuse of our already overburdened court system."

St. Louis County Counselor Peter Krane defended the one-year delay. He acknowledged his office reviewed approximately 100 reports documenting arrests in Ferguson between August and December 2014. He expects the county will ultimately issue fewer than 100 warrants in connection with the Ferguson disruptions.

Krane says the staff review of the Ferguson files didn't begin until after he was appointed chief legal counsel in January.

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