Ferguson Police Prepare for More Protests Ahead of Grand Jury Decision

As a grand jury prepares to decide whether to pursue criminal charges against a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri who shot a black teenager, local police are preparing for a new set of possible riots in the St. Louis suburb.

A grand jury will decide within the next month if officer Darren Wilson of Ferguson should face criminal charges in an August 9 incident involving 18-year-old black teenager Michael Brown, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Recent information regarding the official county autopsy of Brown suggests that Wilson may not face charges. The autopsy found that Wilson's gun was discharged at close range, and that Brown was shot in the hand with his palm facing the officer. Such observations may be in line with the police department's claim that Brown pushed Wilson into his cop car and attempted to grab his gun before being fatally shot.

Those protesting Brown's death argued that the teenager had not had a physical altercation with Wilson and instead was standing in a surrender position, with his hands in the air.

According to the Associated Press, police officers in Ferguson are preparing for another possible wave of protests if Wilson is not charged. The town participated in weeks of protests, so of which grew violent, after Brown was killed in August.

"I know there's a lot of anxiety, there's a lot of fear, anticipation" about Wilson's fate, Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson told the Associated Press, adding "I have a lot of hope."