Several people were arrested at a protest in Ferguson, Mo., on Wednesday night calling for the officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teen in August to be charged by a grand jury.
The protesters tried to block a street outside the city police station during a demonstration that drew dozens of people in sub-freezing temperatures, Reuters reports. The arrests were the first in a week, and came amid heightened security as the grand jury nears its decision after some three months of deliberating.
Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency on Monday, in anticipation of the public response to the grand jury decision about whether Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson will be charged in the August 9 killing of Michael Brown.
Witness Tension Between Police and Protestors in Ferguson, Mo.
A man backs away as law enforcement officials close in on him and eventually detain him during protests over the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager killed by a police officer, in Ferguson, Mo., Aug. 11, 2014.
Whitney Curtis—The New York Times/Redux
Riot police force protestors from the business district into nearby neighborhoods in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
A child uses a rag to shield his face from tear gas fired by riot police, who used it to force protestors from the business district into nearby neighborhoods in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Police officers keep watch from an armored vehicle as they patrol a street in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 11, 2014
Mario Anzuoni—Reuters
Police officers ride an armored vehicle as they patrol a street in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Mario Anzuoni—Reuters
A demonstrator raises his hands in front of of a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Mario Anzuoni—Reuters
Riot police lock down a neighborhood in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
People raise their hands in the middle of the street as riot police move toward their position trying to get them to disperse, in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 11, 2014.
Jeff Roberson—AP
Demonstrators raise their hands and chant "hands up, don't shoot" during a protest over the killing of Michael Brown on in Clayton, Mo. on August 12, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton speaks about the killing of teenager Michael Brown at a press conference held on the steps of the old courthouse in St. Louis on Aug. 12, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Police take up position to control demonstrators who were protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 12, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on August 12, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown outside Greater St. Marks Family Church in St. Louis on Aug. 12, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Police stand watch as demonstrators protest the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 13, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
A demonstrator throws back a tear gas container after tactical officers worked to break up a group of bystanders on Chambers Road near West Florissant in Ferguson on Aug. 13, 2014.
Robert Cohen—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT/Zuma Press
Police officers work their way north on West Florissant Avenue clearing the road of people in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 13, 2014.
Robert Cohen—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/AP
Demonstrators protest the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 13, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
People run through smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 13, 2014.
Jeff Roberson—AP
A protester takes shelter from smoke billowing around him in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 13, 2014.
David Carson—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/AP
An explosive device deployed by police flies in the air as police and protesters clash in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 13, 2014
Jeff Roberson—AP
Thousands of demonstrators peacefully march to the spot where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 14, 2014.
Jeff Roberson—AP
Demetrus Washington joins other demonstrators protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 14, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Demonstrators protest outside of Greater St. Marks Family Church in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 14, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Protesters light candles as they take part in a peaceful demonstration in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 14, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson (L) speaks to protesters as he walks through a peaceful demonstration as communities continue to react to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 14, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
A young child looks out from a car as demonstrators drive down West Florissant Avenue protesting the shooting and death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 15, 2014.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
A demonstrator walks through smoke launched by police after a skirmish in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 15, 2014
Scott Olson—Getty Images
A demonstrator protests on Florissant Ave in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 16, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—NOOR for TIME
Children walk past police officers during a demonstration in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 16, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
Protestors help a man who was injured by tear gas thrown by police after refusing to disperse after the midnight curfew in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
Protestors throw canisters
in Ferguson, Mo. on August 18, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
Protestors demonstrate against the killing of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo. on August 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—NOOR for TIME
A protestor during demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo. on August 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
A protestor retaliates against police in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
A protestor throws a canister of tear gas back at police during demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
Police wait to advance after tear gas was used to dispersed a crowd in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Charlie Riedel—AP
A protestor holds a sign that reads "stop killing us" amid clouds of tear gas in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Jon Lowenstein—Noor for TIME
Police wait to advance after tear gas was used to disperse a crowd in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Charlie Riedel—AP
Tear gas rains down on a woman kneeling in the street with her hands in the air during a demonstration in Ferguson on Aug. 17, 2014. The "hands up, don't shoot" pose became the defining gesture of the protests.
Scott Olson—Getty Images
Protesters attempt to treat a woman who was in a cloud of tear gas thrown by police in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 17, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Demonstrators march down West Florissant Ave. during a peaceful march in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown near Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Demonstrators march down West Florissant during a peaceful march in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown, near Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Police tackle a man who was walking down the street in front of McDonald's in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
Laurie Skrivan—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/AP
Law enforcement officers watch on during a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
Michael B. Thomas—AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators cover their faces as tear gas fills the air as police fire the gas against an unruly crowd protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug.18, 2014
Joe Raedle—Getty Images
A protestor wearing a gas mask stands with his hands up while facing armed police in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
Abe Van Dyke—Demotix/Corbis
Police fire tear gas in the direction of where bottles were thrown from crowds gathered near the QuikTrip on W. Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 18, 2014.
David Carson—St Louis Post-Dispatch/Polaris
Demonstrators stand in the middle of West Florissant as they react to tear gas fired by police during ongoing protests in reaction to the shooting of teenager Michael Brown, near Ferguson, Missouri, August 18, 2014.
Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Demonstrators protest against the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Aug. 19, 2014.
Joshua Lott—Reuters
A police officer in riot gear detains a demonstrator protesting against the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 19, 2014.
Joshua Lott—Reuters
Police officers in riot gear watch demonstrators protesting against the shooting of Michael Brown from the side of a building in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 19, 2014.
Joshua Lott—Reuters
Two protesters sit with their faces covered during a peaceful protest in Ferguson, Mo. early on Aug. 20, 2014.
Michael B. Thomas—AFP/Getty Images
A man is doused with milk and sprayed with mist after being hit by an eye irritant from security forces trying to disperse demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo. early on Aug. 20, 2014.
Adrees Latif—Reuters
In this photo taken with a long exposure, protesters march in the street as lightning flashes in the distance in Ferguson, Mo., Aug. 20, 2014.
Jeff Roberson—AP
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