FERGUSON, États-Unis - Les autorités policières de Ferguson, dans le Missouri, ont rendu publique vendredi l'identité du policier qui a tué par balles un adolescent noir et publié des documents selon lesquels le jeune homme était soupçonné d'avoir dérobé une boîte de cigares dans un commerce avant d'être abattu.
Le chef de police de la municipalité, Thomas Jackson, a précisé que l'agent Darren Wilson ignorait toutefois que ces soupçons pesaient sur Michael Brown lorsqu'il a appréhendé l'adolescent et l'un de ses amis sous prétexte que ces derniers «se promenaient au milieu de la rue en entravant la circulation».
Le policier âgé de 28 ans est à l'emploi de la ville située en banlieue de Saint-Louis depuis six ans, a précisé le chef Jackson.
La mort de Michael Brown a provoqué la fureur au sein de la communauté. La ville de Ferguson a été le théâtre de violentes manifestations au cours des derniers jours.
Les versions du drame qui s'est joué à Ferguson demeurent contradictoires.
Selon les autorités, un des deux hommes aurait poussé le policier dans un véhicule, l'aurait agressé et tenter de lui voler son arme. Au moins un coup de feu a été tiré à l'intérieur de l'automobile. La bagarre s'est poursuivie dans la rue où Brown a été atteint par plusieurs balles.
Dorian Johnson, qui dit être celui qui accompagnait Michael Brown au moment du drame, et un autre témoin ont tous dit que M. Brown avait les mains en l'air quand le policier l'a abattu.
INOLTRE SU HUFFPOST
Émeutes à Ferguson
Police Shooting Missouri(01 of44)
A man holds his hands up in the street after a standoff with police Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(02 of44)
A man is helped ease the effects of tear gas during a protest Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(03 of44)
A man tries to recover after being treated for tear gas during a protest Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(04 of44)
A man is detained after a standoff between protesters and police Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(05 of44)
A man is detained by police during a protest Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(06 of44)
A man stands in the street during a protest Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(07 of44)
Police advance to clear people Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(08 of44)
A man protests Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by police Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting has sparked more than a week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(09 of44)
A law enforcement officer on a tactical vehicle reloads after firing Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(10 of44)
Police wait to advance after tear gas was used to disperse a crowd Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(11 of44)
People protest Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(12 of44)
A man wearing a police hat protests Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(13 of44)
People protest Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Police Shooting Missouri(14 of44)
A law enforcement officer on a tactical vehicle watches after a device was fired to disperse a crowd Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(15 of44)
In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, a man tries to recover from tear gas after people leave a McDonald's restaurant Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(16 of44)
A protester stands in the street after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police Shooting Missouri(17 of44)
Police wait to advance after tear gas was used to disperse a crowd Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, during a protest for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Police Shooting Missouri(18 of44)
People protest Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer last Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. As night fell Sunday in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street. Police attempted to push them back by firing tear gas and shouting over a bullhorn that the protest was no longer peaceful. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police walk through a cloud of smoke as they clash with protesters(19 of44)
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Police attempt to secure a street after a clash with protesters(20 of44)
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A device deployed by police goes off in the street(21 of44)
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A protester kicks a smoke grenade back in the direction of police(22 of44)
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Eerie scenes in the sleepy suburb...(23 of44)
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A man prepares to throw a molotov cocktail at police(24 of44)
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An Al Jazeera television crew, covering demonstrators protesting, flee(25 of44)
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Police advance through the smoke...(26 of44)
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Demonstrators protest the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown(27 of44)
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Police and protesters clash(28 of44)
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An explosive device deployed by police flies in the air(29 of44)
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An armoured personnel carrier speeds down the street(30 of44)
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People run through smoke away from police(31 of44)
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Protests in the St. Louis suburb have been rocked by racial unrest(32 of44)
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Police stand watch as demonstrators protest(33 of44)
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Most were peaceful protesters in the St. Louis suburb, holding hands(34 of44)
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Demonstrators scramble for cover(35 of44)
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Police fire tear gas on the fourth day of protests(36 of44)
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Protesters faced heavily armed police(37 of44)
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Baghdad USA...(38 of44)
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Police surround and detain two people in a car(39 of44)
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At least two reporters were assaulted and detained by police(40 of44)
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A demonstrator stands his ground(41 of44)
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Police stand watch as demonstrators protest(42 of44)
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Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on Saturday(43 of44)
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(44 of44)
A protester takes shelter from the tear gas exploding around him