Anti-Violence Strategy May Have Backfired

For two weeks, members of a black separatist group called for the “execution” of a white policeman for the fatal shooting of a black motorist, threatening to “burn this city down” unless the officer was charged and fired.

The shooting itself had touched off rioting Oct. 24, so police took the threats seriously. They scoured the streets for days, clearing trash bins and alleys of six tons of rocks and bottles they believe the group stashed as ammunition to use against them.

And on Wednesday, the day a grand jury cleared the officer, police prepared to arrest group leaders so they would spend the night in jail.

But the strategy may have backfired: The group leaders were arrested in front of their headquarters, in full view of already seething protesters.

Within hours, two police officers were wounded by gunfire and seven other people were injured as people angrily took to the same streets where they rioted last month, after Officer Jim Knight shot 18-year-old TyRon Lewis through Lewis’ tinted windshield.

Rioters tossed Molotov cocktails, sparking dozens of fires. At least 29 were confirmed, said fire chief Jim Callahan. A homeless man was burned when an abandoned house caught fire, and two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation. Fires did at least $1 million in damage, he said. Police arrested nine people, most for looting.

On Thursday, Police Chief Darrel Stephens faced angry questions from City Council members who wanted to know why the group wasn’t brought under control before the looting, arson and shooting broke out.

The threat of violence had hung over the city since shortly after the first night of riots, which caused upwards of $5 million in damage.