Michael Brown's stepfather investigated for comments

ST. LOUIS - Police are investigating Michael Brown's stepfather for angry comments on the streets of Ferguson after a grand jury decided not to indict the police officer who fatally shot his stepson, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Officials are looking into Louis Head's comments as part of a broader investigation into the arson, vandalism, and looting that followed the Nov. 24 grand jury announcement, St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman said. Twelve commercial buildings were destroyed by fire.

Brown, 18, who was black and unarmed, was killed Aug. 9 by Darren Wilson, who is white. Wilson, who resigned from the Ferguson department last weekend, had told the grand jury his life was being threatened. Some witnesses said Brown was trying to surrender.

Video widely circulated after last week's grand jury announcement shows Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, on top of a car and breaking down as the decision blares over a stereo. Head, her husband, comforts her and then yells angry comments, including "Burn this bitch down!"

Family attorney Benjamin Crump has called the reaction "raw emotion" but "completely inappropriate." He did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Head has not yet been interviewed by police, and there is no timetable for when the investigation will be complete, Schellman said. He declined to discuss what specific charges Head could face. A message left with a spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch was not immediately returned.

Ferguson police spokesman Jeff Small said that department was not conducting a separate investigation of Head.

Peaceful protests have continued, including one Tuesday involving students who walked out of classes from three Ferguson-area high schools.

The Ferguson-Florissant School District said in a letter to parents that teachers accompanied the students to ensure their safety but that the protests were student-led. The letter also said the district dispatched transportation to pick up students and return them to classes, though some chose to walk back.