Two men were arrested Sunday afternoon after entering a Michigan police station while masked and armed, allegedly practicing their right to open carry. The above video shows the scene play out.
Editor’s Note: The video contains graphic language.
According to authorities, on the early afternoon of Feb. 5, Dearborn Police responded to a local shopping district to investigate a report of two suspicious men in a vehicle wearing tactical vests and masks. The subjects left the area before police arrived on scene.
A short time later a Dearborn police sergeant on patrol observed the subjects’ occupied vehicle in a park approximately three miles away, police said. The sergeant conducted a traffic stop to investigate further. The occupants of the vehicle were dressed in heavy tactical vests and the passenger, who refused to speak to the sergeant, was wearing a balaclava mask which covered his face.
After conducting a brief preliminary investigation and not observing any firearms in the passenger compartment, police said the sergeant released the subjects.
The subjects then allegedly drove to the Dearborn Police station where authorities said one subject, a 24-year-old resident of Leonard, Mich., entered the building wearing a tactical vest, mask, and armed with an AP-14 firearm and handgun. The second subject, a 40-year-old resident of Jackson, Mich., entered the station wearing a tactical vest and carrying a camera and tripod.
Officers confronted the subjects, who initially refused to comply with officers commands, police said. Compliance was eventually gained and the subjects were taken into custody without incident. Both men posted $1,500 bond and were released pending future court appearances.
“I find this behavior totally unacceptable and irresponsible. This is not a Second Amendment issue for me,” Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a statement. “We had members of the public in our lobby that fled in fear for their safety as these men entered our building.”
Officers seized the loaded AP-14 firearm, rifle magazine containing (47) 7.62 rounds, a loaded Glock 19 handgun with four additional magazines containing 66 rounds, body armor and ballistic vests, mask, gun belt and several pieces of camera equipment. Also recovered was an AR-15 rifle along with a AK-47 style rifle, police said.
“I want to express my appreciation for the many calls of support we’ve received from the community including a call from the president of Michigan Open Carry, Inc. who made it clear that he and his organization stand with law enforcement and unequivocally condemn the actions that took place in our lobby this past Sunday,” Haddad said.
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