DeWitt officer who pulled gun on delivery driver faces felony charges, federal lawsuit
ST. JOHNS – A DeWitt police officer who was fired and then reinstated following an off-duty incident involving a newspaper delivery driver has been criminally charged in connection with that incident.
The charges came one day before the newspaper delivery driver, Alexander Hamilton, filed a civil rights suit against officer Chad Vorce and the city of DeWitt in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.
Vorce was arraigned Thursday in Clinton County District Court on one count each of misconduct in office, felonious assault and felony firearm possession, court records show.
The state Attorney General's Office said Vorce, who was off duty, broke the law when he twice pulled a gun on a 19-year-old newspaper delivery driver he believed was driving erratically in January 2021.
“Our assessment of this incident showed dangerous behavior exhibited by Mr. Vorce,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. “Those who swear to protect and serve must do so responsibly."
A magistrate set a $5,000 cash bond for Vorce, who pleaded not guilty.
His attorney in the criminal case, Patrick O'Keefe, said Vorce maintains his innocence.
"We look forward to litigating this matter," O'Keefe said.
What happened: DeWitt police officer fired for off-duty excessive force, pulling gun on delivery driver
The federal lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged excessive force, illegal seizure, false arrest, false imprisonment, race discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
DeWitt City Administrator Dan Coss declined comment on the lawsuit, saying he and other city officials hadn't had an opportunity to review it.
The incident involving the delivery driver happened on the morning of Jan. 14, 2021.
Vorce called 911 to report seeing a "suspicious" Black man parked near his DeWitt Township home. He spoke with the driver, then followed him to a gas station, where he approached the driver with his gun out, according to police reports.
Nessel's office said Vorce drew his weapon twice – once on Airport Road and a second time in the gas station parking lot. DeWitt police and Michigan State Police eventually arrived at the gas station, she said.
The city fired Vorce a few months later for operating outside of his jurisdiction, using excessive force, failing to de-escalate the situation, having an inappropriate tone and demeanor, and violating the department's social media policy, according to records.
But an arbitrator ordered Vorce be reinstated in December, writing that while Vorce's actions had an impact on the department, it wasn't to a degree that it "otherwise undermined or significantly impaired the otherwise good reputation of the department."
More: DeWitt police officer who pulled gun on Black delivery driver reinstated by arbitrator
More: No police duties for reinstated DeWitt cop until state reactivates license
In a statement, department officials said they were "extremely disappointed" in the arbitrator's ruling.
The city in January said Vorce still had not returned to the force because his license, or certification, had not been reactivated. Vorce's current job status was unclear.
A hearing to determine whether he should stand trial on the charges is tentatively set for April 28.
In a news release Friday, Hamilton's attorney, Dustyn Coontz, applauded Nessel's move to authorize charges against Force, but said she could have brought more counts against the officer.
"By our calculations, Vorce should be charged with two counts of felonious assault, one count of misconduct in office and three counts of felony firearm ...," the release said.
In an interview, Coontz said he "had no inkling" criminal charges would be filed on Thursday, and the timing of the lawsuit was coincidental.
Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: AG charges DeWitt cop who pulled gun on newspaper delivery driver
