Missouri Governor Declares State Of Emergency In Preparation For Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

(Reuters) - Missouri's governor declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of a pending grand jury decision on whether to file criminal charges against a white police officer for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.

Jay Nixon said in an executive order that he was taking the action because "there is the possibility of expanded unrest" regardless of the findings of federal and state investigations, which he said could soon be announced.

The state of emergency allows the state to call in the National Guard if they're needed to help control protests.

The grand jury is not expected to pursue criminal charges against Darren Wilson, the cop who shot unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

Protests broke out in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, after Brown was shot. Accusations of racism have plagued the Ferguson police force since witness accounts claimed that Brown had his hands up when Wilson shot him.

Contradictory statements from eyewitnesses, however, make it difficult to determine the full truth of what happened. Wilson contends that he shot Brown during an altercation in which Brown reached for Wilson's gun.

(Reuters reporting by Peter Cooney in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler)