Video: Open-Carry Gun Advocate's Confrontation with Grand Rapids Police that Sparked Lawsuit

A police car dash cam video obtained by MLive and The Grand Rapids Press shows the encounter between Grand Rapids Police officers and open-carry advocate Johann Deffert that sparked a federal lawsuit.

Deffert’s suit – filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids – is against the city, Police Chief Kevin Belk, Officer William Moe and two other officers.

In response to request for video of the encounter, the city has released in-car video of the March 3 incident. The camera view shows only a portion of the encounter, but it captures extensive audio from the day in question.

Responding to a report of a man with a holstered handgun, Moe stopped his patrol car on Michigan Street NE near Lakeside Drive.

“It does look like he’s got a handgun on,” Moe told a dispatcher.