The St Louis county police chief, Jon Belmar, has firmly denied his department asked for a no-fly zone to restrict media access during the unrest that roiled Ferguson’s streets in August.
Flight restrictions went into place for 12 days following protests over the shooting on 9 August of Michael Brown by an officer with the Ferguson police department, Darren Wilson. The restrictions did not apply to commercial or police air traffic but prevented news helicopters from freely flying over the area.
Speaking at an afternoon press conference at county police headquarters, Belmar said the no-fly zone was instituted after a recommendation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). At the time the St Louis county police force was leading the law enforcement response.
Belmar said an FAA representative called the St Louis county police command post on 11 August at an unlisted number and offered that a no fly-zone be instituted due to concerns about air traffic volume and a report of shots being fired at a police helicopter.
Belmar played reporters an emergency phone call on 10 August from a civilian who said shots had been fired at a police helicopter by someone holding a black pistol. Belmar told reporters the helicopter was not damaged by the suspected gunfire. He added that a second incident occurred more than a week later when someone pointed a laser at a police helicopter flying over the protests in a possible attempt to disorient the pilot.
Belmar emphasized his department did not initiate talks for flight restrictions. “We did not have these type of discussions in unified command,” he said. “We were busy with other things.”
On Sunday the Associated Press published excerpts of conversations between FAA workers that seemed to indicate a desire among police to use the no-fly zone to restrict media access.
When asked about the report Belmar called them “informal conversations” and said he believed the words may have been taken out of context. Belmar said there was no effort by St Louis county police to use the flight restrictions to limit media access, adding that if police wanted to move the media out of the way they would have started on the ground.
Along with gunfire and laser incidents, Belmar said police had uncovered intelligence that indicated organised groups may have considered using rifles to target police helicopters. Belmar said there were no drones flying over the protests but other “assets” were in the air, though he declined to provide specifics.
Belmar said commercial air traffic was not restricted because the higher altitude involved alleviated safety concerns. He acknowledged the environment was not safe for police helicopters but said his department had a responsibility to fly them. Helicopters were “more efficient” than ground crews and had been used to respond to a variety of calls, including a false report of a fire at the Canfield Green apartments.
Belmar said his department was “very prepared” for the impending grand jury decision on whether to lay charges against Wilson and had been participating in high-level response planning meetings with federal and local agencies since 1 September.
When asked about the controversial deployment of teargas during the August protests, Belmar refused to rule out using it again. He added that there had been a “hue and cry” from local small businesses and corporations worried about reaction to the grand jury’s decision – speculation in recent weeks has focused on the possibility that no charges will be brought.
