Dorian Johnson, Michael Brown's friend, arrested

KSDK-TV, St. Louis

Show Caption Hide Caption Dorian Jonhson, Michael Brown's friend, arrested Dorian Johnson, the friend who was with Michael Brown the day he was shot and killed by police, has been arrested. He is accused of approaching an officer to keep him from making an arrest and police say he threw suspected narcotics onto the ground.

ST. LOUIS — The friend who was with Michael Brown on the day the unarmed African American teen was shot and killed by a white police officer has been arrested.

Dorian Johnson was arrested Wednesday afternoon, KSDK-TV reported. Police had been called to check on a group of people who were possibly armed with guns. Johnson was accused of approaching an officer to keep him from making an arrest, and police say he also threw suspected narcotics onto the ground.

Charges are expected to be filed Thursday, KSDK reported.

After Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in August, Johnson claimed the 18-year-old victim was shot "like an animal." Brown's death triggered unrest in the St. Louis suburb for months and sparked a national movement seeking improved relations between police and blacks.

On Nov. 24, a St. Louis County Grand Jury decided not to bring any charges against Wilson and some records of Johnson's testimony were withheld from public release until a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation could be completed.

In March, the Justice Department declined to bring criminal charges against Wilson, but released a scathing report on the Ferguson Police Department and city that led to resignations of the police chief and other officials.