A quieter night in Ferguson, with fewer protesters

ST. LOUIS – It was a quieter night in Ferguson, Missouri, Wednesday.

Some demonstrators returned to the streets in the evening to protest the fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white officer, but in diminished numbers.

They marched around a single block in the St. Louis suburb as a thunderstorm filled the sky with lighting and dumped rain. Police still stood guard, but many wore regular uniforms rather than riot gear.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who is in charge of security, says there were six arrests, compared to 47 the previous night. He called it “a very good night.”

Johnson said a visit earlier by Attorney General Eric Holder let people know their voices had been heard. Holder had sought to reassure people about the investigation into Michael Brown’s death.

This story was originally published August 21, 2014 at 7:18 AM with the headline "A quieter night in Ferguson, with fewer protesters."