Gun Rights Advocates Convicted: Dearborn Police

DEARBORN, MI — A pair of gun-rights activists arrested after a confrontation with officers inside the Dearborn Police Department in February have been convicted after jury trials in Wayne County Circuit Court. Brandon Vreeland and James Baker will be sentenced on Aug. 18 on several charges.

On Feb. 5, the two men walked into the Dearborn Police Department with Baker carrying several weapons and Vreeland shooting video footage on a camera. A tense standoff followed with about a dozen officers finally subduing the men after threats, cursing and heated words were exchanged.

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Baker, of Leonard, Michigan, was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of brandishing firearms in public. Vreeland was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer and disturbing the peace.

In a Monday press conference, Dearborn police said Vreeland, of Jackson, was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, felony resisting and opposing an officer, and disturbing the peace. Baker was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon.

A few days after the incident, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad condemned the actions of Vreeland and Jackson. “I find this behavior totally unacceptable and irresponsible," he said in a statement. "This is not a 2nd Amendment issue for me. We had members of the public in our lobby that fled in fear for their safety as these men entered our building."

Photos courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department