Ron Johnson Addresses Ferguson Police Officers' Failure To Identify Themselves

The Huffington Post's Ryan J. Reilly, one of the reporters arrested in Ferguson on Wednesday, spoke with Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson Friday and asked why members of the St. Louis County police refused to wear name tags or identify themselves when approached by reporters and members of the public.

"What happened is, some people are taking their names and going on the Internet and getting their identities and social security numbers, and so that's been occurring," Johnson said.

"I can't set rules for another police department," Johnson added, telling Reilly the Ferguson police chief would have to address the identification issues. Johnson also noted Missouri State Highway Patrol officers have removed their name tags "for their safety and security, but if you ask them their name they've been told to tell you."

Watch the exchange above.

When Reilly and The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery were arrested on Wednesday, Reilly asked for the name of the officer taking him into custody. The officer did not respond to Reilly's repeated requests for his name or other identification.

Reilly tweeted Ferguson cops still weren't wearing name tags on Friday and still refused to answer questions about their identification.

See more updates on the situation in Ferguson below: