Open Carry Stunt in Michigan Goes Too Far

Open Carry Stunt in Michigan Goes Too Far

Police in Dearborn, Michigan, charged two men with breach of peace after they walked into a police station live streaming their interaction with police while wearing tactical vests, one of them carrying an AP-14 firearm and a handgun. The men told police they were making a point about civil liberties.

Police confronted the men, later identified as James Craig Baker and Brandon Brent Vreeland, as they initially refused to comply with the officers’ commands to put down their weapons, authorities said.

In the live video, police can be heard giving commands to put down the guns and step back. One of the suspects told the police, “We aren’t breaking any laws.”

WARNING: The below video includes offensive language.

Michigan is an open state, which means licensed gun owners are allowed to carry a firearm in public so long as it is not concealed.

Dearborn police say they first encountered the pair early Sunday afternoon when they were called to investigate a report of two suspicious men in a vehicle wearing tactical masks. A Dearborn sergeant spotted the pair and conducted a traffic stop. The sergeant let the pair go after a preliminary investigation.

It was after this run-in with the police that Baker and Vreeland decided to go to the police department. Video shows the two talking to one another as they moved across the parking lot into the station.

"So, we're here outside Dearborn police station," one of the men, who is masked, says to the camera. "We're going to go in and file a complaint because we were illegally pulled over about an hour ago."

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad released a press release on the incident explaining how dangerous the stunt was.

"I find this behavior totally unacceptable and irresponsible. This is not a Second Amendment issue for me," Haddad said in a press release. "We had members of the public in our lobby that fled in fear for their safety as these men entered our building."

Baker, 24, was holding both of the firearms at the time of the incident and was charged with breach of peace, masks/disguises while parading, and failure to cooperate during booking proceedings.

Vreeland was carrying the camera and tripod. He was charged with breach of peace, failure to obey police officer’s direction or order, and resisting an officer’s demands. All of the charges are misdemeanors.

After the incident was over, police seized guns, ammunition, body armor and ballistic vests, according to authorities. In all, they recovered four guns, including the loaded AP-14 and a loaded Glock 19 handgun. It was not clear where police found the other two firearms.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3