U.S.
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A police officer resigned after he was suspended for pointing his semi-automatic rifle and threatening protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, amid demonstrations that broke out after the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, police said.
Lt. Ray Albers resigned Thursday, St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez said. Albers had been shown on cellphone video pointing his rifle at demonstrators and threatening them on Aug. 19 in Ferguson.
In the video, a man is heard saying, "Oh my God! Gun raised!" as the officer approaches. The officer walks near the man, gun pointed, and appears to threaten to kill him. A St. Louis County police sergeant forced the officer to lower the weapon and escorted him away.
A message left on Albers' home phone was not immediately returned.
The fatal shooting of Brown – an unarmed African-American teenager – by a white police officer ignited days of protests. Local police in riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who refused to disperse and, at times, vandalized nearby stores.
After widespread criticism of the local police response, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon placed the State Highway Patrol in charge of securing Ferguson with a more relaxed approach. Nixon later called in the National Guard and imposed a curfew that was lifted after several nights of clashes between police and protesters.
The Associated Press
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