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

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • 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.