- Patriot militia called Oath Keepers guarded streets and businesses in Ferguson in wake of riots which tore through town
- Police told them they were acting illegally and threatened them with arrest and stripped one member of his rifle
- Group told officers they had been invited to look after businesses as the suburb burned in wake of officer Darren Wilson being cleared
- Two hour argument over whether the Oath Keepers were allowed in the town
- Member says: ‘We are here to help people that the government left hanging’
- Now launching legal action to be allowed to guard properties
- Businesses were burned out by rioters and hit by looting despite police presence
By Daniel Bates In Ferguson, Missouri for MailOnline
The man from the Oath Keepers was told to hand over the weapon and threatened with arrest as police in the Missouri city issued an order for them to stand down.
Senior officers claim that that are acting illegally but the Oath Keepers are ignoring the order.
They are challenging it in the Missouri courts because they say it is a breach of their constitutional rights – and that Ferguson needs the extra help.
The Oath Keepers were thrust into the spotlight when photos of them standing guard on top of buildings in Ferguson to stop them being burned during the recent unrest were published in the national media.
Order: This is the moment one of the Oath Keepers was stripped of their rifle by police in Ferguson after the riots which left parts of the suburb burning
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