HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – After City of Holland police officers made a dramatic traffic stop on Maple Avenue, near 17th Street Friday evening, some residents expressed concern on social media.
In a Facebook post, HDPS officials noted that officers made the stop at about 6:15 p.m. Friday while looking for a suspect in an armed domestic violence incident. The sedan pulled into the parking lot at Maple Avenue Ministries. Seven police cars clustered at the edge of the lot.
Police believed the suspect was in the vehicle stopped and still in possession of the gun, according to the HDPS statement.
Four people in the vehicle, between the ages of 19 and 23 years old, were ordered out at gunpoint, according to the HDPS statement.
Police did not release the name of the suspect, but noted he was arrested and charged with domestic assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and had an outstanding unrelated warrant. The driver was also arrested, cited for a driving offense (the HDPS statement did not indicate what offense), and released.
The vehicle’s two passengers were released about 20 minutes after the stop, according to the statement.
While many congratulated police on the successful arrest, some comments to the Facebook post expressed distress that each of the car’s four occupants had guns held to their heads after they were handcuffed.
A subsequent police statement, posted in the comments, stated, “when there is a suspect of a crime where a gun was used, and it is believed that the suspect and gun are in the car, we consider that a high risk stop. This stop was handled as any high risk stop would be where all occupants are removed at gunpoint until the gun is recovered and it is considered safe. Race doesn’t change that, gender doesn’t change that, we are consistent with handling a high risk situation that way.”
The Rev. Denise Kingdom Grier, saw the incident unfold in the parking lot of her Maple Avenue Ministries, recording it on her phone. She is audibly shocked when she spots her nephew emerge from the car. She later posted a video of herself expressing concern for the use of guns after someone is in handcuffs, later writing, “Who can be free after having a rifle pointed inches from their head while lying on the ground and being cuffed.”
In a separate Facebook video, Kingdom Grier expressed concern that that part of the incident was excessive force.
“I’m not saying police officers get up in the morning and try to hurt somebody or they get up in the morning to try to do harm,” Kingdom Grier said, adding that she hopes Holland police will hear those concerns.
Kingdom Grier is calling for a peaceful rally at her church’s parking lot at 7 p.m. Monday.
WHTC has contacted Holland Department of Public Safety to clarify some outstanding questions about the traffic incident.
