State of emergency declared in Ferguson

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger has issued a state of emergency following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, after a teenager was charged with shooting at police officers.

"The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger," Stenger said in a statement.

"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency, effective immediately."

On a day of civil disobedience called by activists in Missouri on Monday, several people were arrested after jumping barricades at a courthouse in St. Louis, news video reports showed. Events had been held on Sunday to mark the anniversary of Michael Brown's death at the hands of a white police officer one year ago.

Violence during Michael Brown commemorations

Several shots had rung out late Sunday night on West Florissant Avenue in eastern Ferguson. Police shot and wounded one suspect, 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Jr., after he had allegedly shot through the windshield of an unmarked police van with four plainclothes officers inside.

Harris' father says he believes that his son was unarmed, and he called the police version "a bunch of lies." Harris remains hospitalized following surgery; police have described his condition as critical. A bail bond has been set at $250,000 (227,000 euros), although none of the officers were injured.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called Sunday's violence and arrest "a sad turn of events."

Nixon, who had deployed the National Guard to quell violence last year, did not make any mention of additional security for rallies on Monday planned in and around Ferguson.

Prosecution files ten charges against Harris

The office of St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch on Monday announced charges that included five counts of armed criminal action, four counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and one firearms charge. All 10 charges are felonies.

County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the suspect was among about six people who fired shots during a protest.

The death of Brown and a grand jury's decision to spare the officer, Darren Wilson, from criminal charges led to a wave of demonstrations that boiled over into rioting and arson at times and spawned sympathy rallies across the United States.

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ss/gsw (AP, Reuters, AFP)