St. Louis County fortifies police headquarters before Ferguson grand jury ruling

Shopkeeper: ‘If they break my window, they’ll put me out of business’

CLAYTON, Mo. — On Saturday, grand jury watch started to feel more like a hurricane watch here in the heart of St. Louis County.

Workers scrambled Saturday morning to barricade police headquarters and other government buildings, residents grabbed supplies at a corner store and some shop owners finished boarding up windows.

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“I try not to think about it, but if they break my window, they’ll put me out of business,” Maria Mathias, owner of Busy Bee Alterations & Shoe Repair. “They've really got my heart pumping right now."

Mathias, a business owner in Clayton for 23 years, watched with angst Saturday morning as workers secured the police department across the street.