Michael Brown's stepfather apologizes for comments

FERGUSON, Mo. - The stepfather of Michael Brown has apologized for angry comments he made after the grand jury decided not to indict the police officer who killed his stepson, but he said his remarks had nothing to do with the arson and looting that ravaged Ferguson and the surrounding area.

Louis Head said Wednesday in a statement that he was full of emotion on the night of Nov. 24, when he yelled "Burn this bitch down!" in a crowd of protesters.

St. Louis County police said Tuesday they were investigating Head's comments as part of a broader inquiry into the arson, vandalism, and looting. Twelve commercial buildings were destroyed in the hours after the grand jury decision.

Head does not have a listed phone number, and there was no answer when an Associated Press reporter knocked at his listed address Wednesday.

"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," Head's statement reads.

"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 Head said to it would be unfair to place blame solely on him for the violence that transpired.

"In the end, I've lived in this community for a long time," he said. "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."

Remy Cross, a criminologist at Webster University in suburban St. Louis, said he would be surprised if Head is criminally charged, especially considering the emotional distress he was under at the time.