Afrasianet - Riot police in St. Louis said they have made “numerous” arrests to disperse the “unruly crowd” after a third consecutive day of mostly peaceful protests once again erupted into riots, clashes and vandalism overnight.

St. Louis police were forced to deploy reinforcements after initial reports of “significant property damage” and “agitators breaking multiple windows” surfaced in downtown St. Louis at around 8pm.

Windows were smashed at the Marriott Hotel on Washington Avenue and at other nearby businesses, including a sushi restaurant, a nail salon and an optician's, St. Louis Today reported.

"This is no longer a peaceful protest," police said on Twitter as they ordered the crowd to disperse immediately. The warnings have been repeated a number of times for more than an hour.

Protesters refused to obey orders, however. Police then started making several arrests after confiscating weapons, guns and protective gear from one rioter. According to reports, they used pepper spray.

Authorities also said that “unknown chemicals” were sprayed onto officers during the night. Several bottles with “unknown” substances, which according to some reports might have been liquid to neutralize the effects of tear gas, were confiscated from the activists.

Earlier in the day protesters peacefully marched into the city’s Midtown area holding up “Black Lives Matter” signs and chanting, “Stop killing us” and “No justice, no peace.”

There they gathered outside the St. Louis Police Department. They formed lines in front of the barricaded police headquarters where they staged a “die-in” action.

Protests erupted Friday after murder charges in the 2011 shooting case of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith were dismissed by the court. Judge Timothy Wilson ruled that former St. Louis Metropolitan police officer Jason Stockley acted in self-defense when officers were trying to arrest the suspect.

The decision triggered massive demonstrations in the city and suburbs. By late afternoon, marchers were heard chanting, “We shut s*** down” and “These killer cops have got to go.”

By Friday evening, protesters converged on Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house before police formed a barrier and used pepper spray on those who refused to leave. The demonstrations on Friday left 11 police officers injured. At least 33 people were detained.

On Saturday, protests continued their violent streak for a second night running. Following a number of peaceful events, by the evening some rioters started breaking windows of various businesses and throwing objects at police.

Officers in riot gear engaged the protesters, making nine arrests on charges ranging from “rioting” to “assault” in a confrontation that took place in University City, a suburb of St. Louis near Washington University.