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Now he’s trying to extinguish the flames.
Michael Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, has apologized for his expletive-laced, inflammatory comments of “burn this bitch down!” in the aftermath of last week’s grand jury decision to not indict former Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson for the teen’s death.
St. Louis County police are investigating the impassioned stepdad for fanning the flames outside the Ferguson police department after the Nov. 24 announcement. The incident, caught on camera, shows Head standing atop a car and consoling Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, before turning and screaming “burn this bitch down” and “burn this motherf----r down” multiple times.
The emotional scene came amid a tumultuous night in the St. Louis area, when some 12 commercial buildings burned to the ground and dozens were arrested as riots, looting and angry protests raged.
MICHAEL B. THOMAS/AFP/Getty Images At least 12 commercial buildings were burned to the ground, among several fires to break out in the St. Louis fire in the decision's riotous aftermath. A total of 124 people were arrested in Ferguson in the days after the announcement, though none since Friday.
Missouri’s Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is among those who believe Head acted criminally, telling conservative radio host Laura Ingraham last week that the grieving step-parent “should be arrested and charged with inciting a riot.”
Several witnesses have been interviewed, police said, though there’s no timetable on a decision to charge.
Big'mike Jr Brown via FacebookMichael Brown, 18, was shot dead Aug. 9.
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FacebookOfficer Darren Wilson has since resigned from the Ferguson police department.
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In his apology statement, sent to CNN, Head said to blame him for the riots “goes way too far and is as wrong as the decision itself.”
The grand jury decided there was not enough evidence to prove wrongdoing when Wilson shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, six times to death in broad daylight on Aug. 9.
Here is the full statement, provided to CNN:
"I was so angry and full of raw emotions, as so many others were, and granted, I screamed out words that I shouldn't have screamed in the heat of the moment," he said."It was wrong and I humbly apologize to all of those who read my pain and anger as a true desire for what I want for our community.
"But to place blame solely on me for the conditions of our community, and country, after the grand jury decision goes way too far and is as wrong as the decision itself. To declare a state of emergency and send a message of war, and not peace, before a grand jury decision was announced is also wrong.
"In the end, I've lived in this community for a long time. The last thing I truly wanted was to see it go up in flames. In spite of my frustration, it really hurt to see that."
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