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Protests erupt after ex-cop Jason Stockley found not guilty in black man's death

(CNN)Protests broke out Friday afternoon in downtown St. Louis hours after a judge found former police officer Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of black motorist Anthony Lamar Smith.

Soon after the verdict, protesters and activists gathered outside the courthouse to voice displeasure. Some could be seen locking arms and praying together, while others held signs, chanting, "No justice, no peace."

While the protests started peacefully, St. Louis police said Friday evening that demonstrators smashed the windshield of a police vehicle. Officials said violence would not be tolerated.

In a separate tweet, police declared the protest no longer peaceful, and that protesters ignoring commands would be subject to arrest.

Protesters made their way to police headquarters and called for police resignations and an economic boycott of St. Louis, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper reported.

St. Louis police said that some officers were hit by water bottles.

Stockley, then a St. Louis officer, fatally shot Smith, 24, after a police chase in December 2011 over a suspected drug deal.

Stockley pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defense and believed Smith was reaching for a gun in his car. Prosecutors accused the officer of planting a silver revolver to justify the shooting. The defendant waived his right to a jury trial, meaning the ruling was left to the judge.

"This Court, in conscience, cannot say that the State has proven every element of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, or that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense," St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson wrote in his ruling. Stockley also was acquitted of armed criminal action.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner said she was "disappointed" by the decision.

"Right now, I'm just going to be honest, I pray for my city, man," Michael Brown said outside the courthouse Friday morning. "Because my people are tired of this." Brown is the father of Michael Brown, a young black man who was shot and killed by a police officer in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

Earlier this week, Smith's fiancée had urged the community to avoid violence.

"However it goes, I ask for peace," Christina Wilson said, appearing in a press conference with Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens.

Authorities had set up barricades around the courthouse and intensified security in preparation for protests, according to CNN affiliate KMOV.

"What the country needs to know is, every single person in our country, we have a right to be mad," said Al Watkins, an attorney for Smith's fiancée, Christina Wilson, after the verdict. "We have a right to disagree. We have a right to express our opinion. We have a right to protest."

"Exploit that right, don't compromise it," he said. "Stay peaceful."

Greitens said the National Guard has been activated to protect residents and property after the verdict.

"As governor, I am committed to protecting everyone's constitutional right to protest peacefully while also protecting people's lives, homes, and communities," he said in a statement before the judge's ruling. "Taking the steps to put the Missouri National Guard on standby is a necessary precaution."

Prosecutors accused the officer of planting a silver revolver to justify the shooting..."

• A high-speed police chase preceded the shooting. During the pursuit, Stockley shouted commands to Bianchi, who drove their police SUV while chasing Smith through the Walnut Park neighborhood at speeds approaching 90 mph. Amid sirens, engine noise and squawking radio traffic, Stockley can be heard on an in-car camera video telling Bianchi "Gonna kill this motherfucker, don't you know it."

RayThom wrote:

Prosecutors accused the officer of planting a silver revolver to justify the shooting..."

This action was caught on tape, PLUS the only fingerprints found on the "throw away" was the cop's.

ex-khobar Andy wrote:... And BTW and off topic, if you read to the end of the judge's ruling, take a look at his signature. The 'i' in Timothy and Wilson has a little circle instead of a dot. Bless him - I thought only 12-year-old girls did that but I guess I am wrong as I am about so much of popular culture these days.

Econoline wrote:If I understand correctly, it's totally the DEFENDANT'S decision whether or not to be tried by a jury. He has a Constitutional right to a jury trial, but he's also entitled to waive that right. It's that simple.

BoSoxGal wrote:

Econoline wrote:If I understand correctly, it's totally the DEFENDANT'S decision whether or not to be tried by a jury. He has a Constitutional right to a jury trial, but he's also entitled to waive that right. It's that simple.

To be clear, there is no Constitutional right to waive a jury trial, only a right TO a jury trial. The federal courts do not recognize an absolute defendant's right to waive, and a jury waiver must be agreed to by the court and the United States.

ex-khobar Andy wrote:... but why would you need a constitutional right to waive a right?"

RayThom wrote:

ex-khobar Andy wrote:I remember those things. My school had a ROTC type thing called the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) of which I opted for the Air Force section. The attitude to uniforms and spit and polish was more relaxed than for our army brothers (we could wear our own black shoes, for example, instead of army boots). We had an ancient Link Trainer and we learned to navigate it with one of these devices. I don't recall what we called it and E6B doesn't ring any bells; but I became reasonably proficient in its use although of course we never left the ground. This would have been 1964-ish.

MajGenl.Meade wrote:... Ha! I was in the CCF down in Dover. Army of course, because the navy and air force were pathetic at marching. And those carpet slippers! We had nice expensive army boots that CRASHED when we stood to attention! They also slid viciously down concrete slopes but were wonderful later on in life at soccer matches when metal studded soles and horseshoe cleats at each end were just the thing to soften Arsenal supporters' feet. We fired rifles and Bren guns while you airey oiks were playing with toy planes.