U.S. Police Arrest Two Journalists, Fire Tear Gas at Protesters After Teen’s Death

Local Editor

Missouri police arrested two journalists and separately fired tear gas and smoke bombs late on Wednesday at a crowd of protesters demonstrating against the death of an unarmed black teen by an officer, U.S. media reported.

Police arrested a Washington Post political reporter, Wesley Lowery, and a Huffington Post reporter, Ryan Reilly, who were reporting on the unrest that has roiled the U.S. town of Ferguson since the college student, Michael Brown, died on Saturday in a police shooting.

Lowery, and Reilly were arrested in a McDonald's restaurant after police entered and ordered people to leave, the pair wrote on Twitter.

In a series of tweets, Lowery said they were given no explanation for their arrest other than "trespassing" and were not charged with any offenses before being released.
Lowery also said the police officers "assaulted" him because the two reporters were not leaving the McDonald's quickly enough.

Separately, U.S. media reported that police officers in riot gear marched toward the protesters near a burned out gas station where demonstrators have gathered in the town of Ferguson.

In Los Angeles, U.S. police shot and killed a black man on Monday during what they called an "investigative stop."

"It is unknown if the suspect has any gang affiliations," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.

"The suspect was transported to a local hospital and after lifesaving efforts he succumbed to his injuries," it said.

Officials in Ferguson urged demonstrators to remain calm.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama noted that the FBI had opened a civil rights investigation into Brown's death.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team