Man accused of brandishing weapon during Tulip Time Festival
HOLLAND — A local man has been accused of brandishing a weapon at two different locations in Holland and Park Township, including during the Tulip Time Festival.
The public was first made largely aware of the incident on Monday, May 8, when a post on the social media group "Holland Informed" showed an email from a local company's HR rep which read: "Team, I have been informed that there is a gunman on the loose (in) downtown Holland. Please ensure our facilities are all locked down until further notice. If moving about, please be vigilant."
The Sentinel made contact with the Holland Department of Public Safety, which said: "There was a subject open carrying. There's not an active gunman or anything roaming the streets."
After The Sentinel posted the statement on social media, the Holland Informed post was removed. A short time later, HDPS released a statement detailing the incident.
According to the statement, officers responded around 1 p.m. to reports of a subject in possession of a rifle in the downtown Holland area. Based on witnesses' statements, they were able to identify the suspect, a 57-year-old Holland Township man later identified by WZZM as Steven Bruso.
Police located Bruso at his residence and were able to speak to him. The initial investigation indicated Bruso didn't threaten anyone, nor were any shots fired. However, according to WZZM, Bruso has been charged with a misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm in public.
While the state's open carry law allows people to carry a firearm in most places, "brandishing" a weapon — gesturing or showing someone the weapon in a manner that could be considered threatening to a reasonable person — is illegal.
WZZM reports Bruso has also been charged with misdemeanor trespassing at Itty Bitty Bar on Ottawa Beach Road in Park Township, where police allege he brandished a firearm in a crowded room. WZZM reports court documents show Bruso signed a "voluntary order" requiring hospitalization and mental health treatment.
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Bond was set at $250,000, the outlet said, in part because Bruso had about 70 weapons in home and many unaccounted for. He cooperated in handing over most of the weapons, the court said, but law enforcement is "continuing to secure more weapons" in safes.
For now, Bruso may not possess, use or buy any more firearms.
— Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Man accused of brandishing weapon during Tulip Time Festival
