GRAND RAPIDS, MI — U.S. Rep. Justin Amash took to Twitter late Wednesday to join thousands of users following intense clashes between police and protestors in Ferguson, Mo.

Another night of violence on the streets stemming from the shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown over the weekend garnered the attention of West Michigan's two-term congressman, who wasn't the first to wonder if images from the Missouri town were that of a war zone.

Police donning riot gear engaged with protestors, at times training weapons on them from atop military equipment in the streets, according to The Associated Press. Some demonstrators reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at the officers while tear gas aimed to dispel the crowd encompassed neighborhood blocks.

Two reporters working for The Washington Post and The Huffington Post say they were detained by police and assaulted because they did not leave a McDonald's fast enough.

Both were released shortly thereafter without charges.

Amash, a libertarian-leaning congressman, cited the local authorities' vigorous response and use of "military tactics" as cause of the escalating violence.

Andrew Krietz covers breaking, politics and transportation news for MLive | The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.